Author Archives: Luckydog2012

Adidas unveils hideous jerseys for six flagship programs this March

17.4.2013 9.57 ⋅

From acid wash jeans, to rat tail haircuts, to Miami Vice-style suits, the 1980s produced a number of fashion trends that probably never need to make a comeback.

Unfortunately, Adidas is bringing one back anyway this March: Zubaz.

Adidas rolled out new garish Zubaz-print jerseys Thursday for six of its flagship college basketball programs to wear during conference tournaments and the NCAA tournament. Baylor, UCLA and Louisville will don http://goods-sporting.webs.com/ sleeved versions similar to what the Golden State Warriors wore in a game earlier this month, while Kansas, Notre Dame and Cincinnati will rock traditional sleeveless jerseys.

[Also: Penn State shocks No. 4 Michigan]

The most amazing feat Adidas accomplished with these jerseys is the sleeves aren’t the part drawing the most complaints. It’s the fact that some of the nation’s most recognizable programs will be wearing color schemes and prints straight out of the early years of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air that has fans most furious.

In a press release revealing the jerseys, Adidas defended them, calling the unusual look „eye-catching“ and „groundbreaking.“

„The impact camo pattern is designed to let players stand out on college basketball’s biggest stage, while patches on the jersey backs feature school specific detailing to pay homage to team spirit and pride,“ the release reads.

If the purpose of the new jerseys is simply to draw attention, then this is the second year in a row Adidas has succeeded. Last year, Adidas also borrowed from the 1980s, putting Louisville, Baylor and Cincinnati in neon jerseys during the college basketball postseason.

Baylor’s neon green look and Louisville’s infrared gear were polarizing as well, but they were not immediately panned the way this year’s jerseys have been. This year’s looks range from not terrible cheap jerseys (Louisville), to pretty awful (Notre Dame), to an abomination (UCLA).

For schools, the purpose of adopting alternate jerseys like these is usually twofold.

First, it’s a money-making opportunity since it introduces a new product to sell. Secondly, it typically aids recruiting by letting prospects know that they’ll always be outfitted in the freshest, most up-to-date gear if they choose your school.

The question with these Adidas jerseys is whether they fulfill either purpose. Maybe the initial uproar will fade, but it’s hard to imagine recruits will be wowed by the new gear or fans will be lining up at sports jerseys campus stores and sporting goods shops to purchase it.

Posted in: E-shop ⋅ Tagged: , ,

Boston Celtics squeak past Miami Heat in Game 4 OT thriller

17.4.2013 6.38 ⋅

The Boston Celtics won Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals 93-91 in overtime.

„Red wasn’t going to let that go in, you know,“ Rivers said of late Celtics icon Red Auerbach. „Not in the Boston Garden.“

BLOG: Video: Rondo takes shot at ‚crying‘ HeatBLOG: Doc Rivers late to game after watching TigerPHOTOS: Highlights from the 2012 NBA playoffs

You can believe that, or you can just believe the shot didn’t fall. But know this: This incarnation of the Celtics refuses to fade gently into the twilight http://goods-sporting.net/hockey-jerseys/. Where ever they are going-perhaps to the NBA Finals, perhaps not-it will be with a fight.

So it was that Game 4 devolved from an offensive exhibition to a physical struggle. Star forwards LeBron James of the Heat and Paul Pierce of the Celtics fouled out in overtime, and six others finished the game with four or five fouls.

The best-of-seven series is tied at 2-2, with the home team winning each game, as it has been in the Western Conference finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs cheap NBA jerseys.

The Celtics-Heat series has been reduced to a three-game series. Game 5 is Tuesday in Miami (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). Boston still faces an arduous task. It must win at least one on the road. Only 14 teams in NBA history have come back from a 2-1 deficit.

„We haven’t put together a 48-minute game yet,“ Boston forward Paul Pierce said. „We’re hoping we can put together a full game in when we get down to Miami.“

Facing pressure, Miami may be close to bringing back All-Star forward Chris Bosh. Bosh hasn’t played since straining his a muscle in his lower abdomen against the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals May 13, three weeks ago. ESPN reported Monday morning that Bosh will be activated for Game 5 and would play barring a setback.

Before Game 4, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said there was no update on Bosh, who has been listed as out indefinitely.

Sunday’s game will be known for wild swings: Boston had an 18-point lead that evaporated in the fourth quarter. It will be known for Rajon Rondo’s 10 first-half assists, and James‘ three-pointer with 37.5 seconds that sent the game into overtime.

It will be known for great offense and great defense, for bad offense and bad defense and for two important offensive rebounds by Boston’s Mickael Pietrus on the same possession, a scoreless Boston possession that took more than 60 seconds off the clock in overtime.

„An instant-classic type of game,“ Pierce said. „A good old class bar fight.“

It will also be known for the two leading scorers fouling out. Pierce, who had 23 points, picked up his sixth foul 38 seconds into overtime. James, who had 29 points, fouled out with 1:51 left.

James sat at his locker postgame flabbergasted. In 794 regular-season and playoff games, James has fouled just four times – three times with the Cleveland Cavaliers. His last before Sunday was April 2, 2008.

„I don’t foul out,“ James said. „If I’m going to foul out, that sixth foul, I wish I would have earned it, and it had actually been a foul on me. Whatever.“

On the play that sent James to bench, he tried to post up Pietrus near the basket. Pietrus fell to the ground and James fell on top of him. Referee Joey Crawford immediately called the foul on James.

„It’s very difficult because I know how to play the game of basketball, and I don’t need an advantage of holding somebody or pushing somebody down,“ James said in the locker room. „But whatever, we lost.“

Fifty-eight fouls were called, 12 of them on the offenses. It was not a pretty game. Boston dropped 61 points in the first half but 32 total in the second half and overtime. Miami shot 42.5%, Boston 41.2%.

„The play-calling was all over the place, as far as the refs,“ Celtics forward Kevin Garnett said.

Rondo gave another advanced-level seminar in point guard play. He carved up the Miami Heat’s defense with another brilliant performance, dominating the game by directing an impressive offensive game plan in the first half. He finished with 15 points and 15 assists.

Spoelstra changed his lineup for the fifth time, moving Joel Anthony into the starting lineup at center instead of Ronny Turiaf. The lineup favors defense, as Anthony is more athletic and versatile.

It had been a productive lineup during the postseason. Entering Game 4, the lineup of Anthony, James, Shane Battier, Wade and Mario Chalmers had outscored opponents by 35 points in 80 minutes during the playoffs.

Miami also rode forward Udonis Haslem’s hot hand. Haslem missed a tough shot at the end of regulation, but he finished with 12 points and 17 rebounds in 36 minutes.

„As the series is getting tougher, more physical, it’s not a coincidence that I’m increasing (Haslem’s) minutes. Same thing with Joel,“ Spoelstra said.

However, the new starting lineup didn’t matter. Rondo notarized the game early with his unique imprint in the first half. The Celtics jumped to a 21-6 lead with 5:17 left in the first quarter on 7-for-12 shooting on three-pointers.

The Heat have no answer for Rondo’s ability to create for himself and others, mostly others. He delivered precision passes to cutters near the basket, and when Miami’s defense collapsed on him, he found open shooters, many at the three-point line.

Six Celtics scored in double-figures: Pierce, Garnett (17), guard Ray Allen (16), Rondo (15), forward Brandon Bass (11) and guard Keyon Dooling (10).

But leads-even Boston’s early 34-23 edge-meant nothing. Boston led 61-43 late in the first half, and 65-49 early in the third quarter.

„Our execution in the first half was flawless,“ Rivers said. „It was as good as maybe we’ve had, and we completely got away from it.“

Miami’s defense gets credit for that. The Heat increased the defensive intensity as they made a push to get back in the game.

„You have to collectively be willing to get into the pit and get your hands dirty for however many minutes it may be,“ Spoelstra said. „Often times, it won’t necessarily be pretty. Both teams defend, both teams get after it and you have to find different ways to come out ahead.“

Wade again started slow but finished with 20 points, 12 coming after halftime. Miami cut Boston’s lead to 73-68 by the start of the fourth quarter and took the lead for the first time, 76-74, on guard Norris Cole’s layup.

However, it was the second consecutive game in which the Heat were down big early. They trailed by 24 in Game 3, which Boston won 101-91.

„We waited until the second half, which we can’t do,“ James said. „We can’t wait until we get down and then make a big push.“

Both teams had chances to win it in regulation and overtime. After James tied the game in regulation, Garnett was called for an offensive foul. Miami called a timeout and ran a play for James, but as he began his move to the basket, three Celtics defenders prevented James from getting into the lane. He passed to Haslem, who missed a shot at the buzzer.

Rondo outscored Miami 3-2 in overtime.

„Let’s lean on our defense,“ Rivers said of his overtime game plan.

It worked. Miami was 1-for-8 in the final five minutes.

„No one said this was going to be easy,“ Spoelstra said.

Posted in: E-shop ⋅ Tagged: ,

Second round worth the wait for some NFL draft prospects

16.4.2013 6.33 ⋅

Rueben Randle has a new appreciation for the word, with his long backstage wait at Radio City Music Hall on Friday night finally, mercifully, disrupted by the big phone call from the New York Giants.

The LSU receiver was the 63rd player chosen in the NFL draft, but as the last player left in the green room you can’t blame him if he felt a bit like Mr. Irrelevant.

„He had a lot of patience,“ said his father, Emmitt Randle.

MORE: Pick-by-pick analysis for Rounds 2 and 3VIDEO: USA TODAY breaks down Day 2 of the draftMORE: Complete coverage of the 2012 NFL draft

The NFL invited 26 players (and their guests) to the Big Apple for the draft festivities. Most of the players were selected on Thursday, and by the time the second round began on Friday night, the first-rounders had taken private jets to their new NFL cities.

USA TODAY Sports on Twitter!

To get the latest sports news from USA TODAY, including game results, columns and features, follow us on Twitter at @USATODAYSports.

One of the invitees, Georgia tackle Cordy Glenn, didn’t bother to stick around on Friday after getting bypassed in Round 1. Glenn, chosen by the Buffalo Bills with the ninth pick of the second round (41st overall), bolted town Friday.

That left a Fab Five for Friday.

Then Coby Fleener, the tight end from Stanford, was picked by Indianapolis with the second pick of the night.

Alabama linebacker Courtney Upshaw left the room on the next pick, headed to Baltimore. Then Stephen Hill, claimed by the Jets in the 43rd slot.

When Penn State defensive tackle Devon Still was picked by the Bengals with the 53rd selection, Randle was left alone in the green room.

Well, not totally alone. He was surrounded by nearly a dozen family members, minus the four siblings who left town earlier on Friday.

„The main thing we did was try to keep him relaxed,“ said Emmitt, who owns a used-car dealership in Bastrop, La. „So we were in there just clowning around.“

That’s Emmitt, like Emmitt Smith?

„Yeah,“ he said. „And my wife is named Troy.“

Seriously?

„Yep.“

And your son winds up with the Giants?

„Now we’ve got to play the Cowboys twice a year.“

Emmitt had just finished watching the baby boy of his six kids handle his press conference with a mellow, low-key manner that the father sais is typical.

Randle, projected as a late first-round pick in several mock drafts, was the sixth receiver selected. If he was disappointed that he wound up as the final player picked in Round 2, he did not show it.

„There was not much I could do about it,“ he said. „It was out of my control.“

The kid surely has a good attitude about this.

„It’s going to be a great opportunity for me,“ he said.

Randle joins a perennial contender with a still-emerging, two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback in Eli Manning. He joins a receiving mix that includes Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz. These factors, his father said, trump the draft slot.

„I told him before the draft began,“ Emmitt said, “ ‚It really doesn’t matter when you are picked. The main thing is that you wind up in a good situation.‘

„Our prayers were answered.“

The Randles weren’t the only ones seeking relief from a higher authority.

Upshaw, also pegged as a first-rounder in many mock drafts, said he prayed about 12 times.

Unlike Randle, Upshaw said he was frustrated when bypassed on Day 1-when the four Alabama teammates who were among the invited were taken.

„They all just told me to keep my head up, that my time was coming,“ he said basketball jerseys,the cheap authentic NBA jerseys supply for cheap with discount price.

The Ravens were originally slotted to pick 29th in the first round on Thursday night. When they traded down, moving to 35th, Upshaw saw it as his sign that he wouldn’t be a first-rounder. It was a huge disappointment authentic San Francisco 49ers jersey.

„That was my goal, to be a first-rounder,“ he said. „When they made the trade, that’s when the frustration set in.“

Yet Upshaw’s draft slot may ultimately prove to be only a minor annoyance. Upshaw joins a contender with a rich tradition for defense. He will play alongside All-Pros Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata.

If that’s not enough of a formula for success, there’s the fresh chip on his shoulder.

„I want to prove everybody wrong who passed on me,“ he said. „I’m motivated.“

Shortly after Upshaw spoke, the clock struck 9 o’clock.

Randle was still in the green room.

But he later received his hero’s welcome from the home crowd, as the hundreds of Giants fans in the crowd roared their approval while Randle slapped palms with former Giants defensive end Michael Strahan and bear-hugged NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on the stage.

In the end, it was worth the wait.

Posted in: Internet ⋅ Tagged: ,

Mariners score 21 runs while dominating Rangers

12.4.2013 5.55 ⋅

Smoak hit two three-run homers against his former team and the Mariners used a pair of early eight-run innings to rout the Texas Rangers for the second straight game, winning 21-8 Wednesday night cheap authentic NFL jerseys.

Smoak had three hits to go with his career high for RBI as Seattle reached double digits for runs in back-to-back games against the AL West leaders. Jesus Montero homered among his three hits and drove in four runs and Kyle Seager had four hits and two RBI. Every Seattle starter had at least one hit in amassing 20 hits.

BOX SCORE: Mariners 21, Rangers 8

Dustin Ackley also had a three-run homer in support of former Rangers minor league prospect Blake Beavan (3-4).

„We were hitting with a lot of confidence up there tonight,“ said Seager, the best hitter in the Mariners‘ lineup at .265 with All-Star Ichiro Suzuki given a rest day.

The Mariners came in hitting .229, 13th of 14 in the American League.

„Hitting is contagious. We kind of got on a little roll there and everybody was feeling good, real relaxed and everything. It was just one of those days.“

Rangers starter Derek Holland (4-4) gave up eight hits, eight runs and two walks in 1 ? innings Seattle had lost five in a row before beating Texas 10-3 Tuesday night. They scored eight runs in the second and third innings en rout to scoring the second-most runs in club history, equaling a 21-9 victory against the Los Angeles Angels on Sept. 30, 2000.

Coincidentally, that was the same day the Rangers gave up the most runs in club history, a 23-2 loss at Oakland.

The Mariners started the game with only one player hitting better than .250 in the lineup. No matter, they sent 27 batters to the plate in the second and third innings, scoring 16 runs on 15 hits-tying their season high for a game-including three home runs.

The 21 runs are the most scored in the majors this season, topping the Rangers and Rockies, who have each scored 18 runs.

„Obviously these guys really put it together here the last couple of nights,“ Seattle manager Eric Wedge said. „You’re seeing a lot of what weve been talking about in regard to potential with these young players.“

Holland got off to a quick start, retiring the top of the first in order, including strikeouts of Chone Figgins and Seager.

The Mariners found their groove in the second, sending 13 batters to the plate. Ackley and Montero each homered and accounted for five RBI, all with two outs, in the inning.

Miguel Olivo had two RBI in the inning, and Seager had one.

Only Michael Saunders did not reach safely in the inning, though he made up for that with a double and a run scored to start the Mariners‘ eight-run third inning.

Montero had two more RBI and Smoak added a three-run home run.

The Rangers needed 97 pitches to retire six hitters.

Holland, who was 6-1 in seven career starts against Seattle, including 4-0 with a 2.70 ERA since the start of last season, threw 41 pitches in the second inning before being relieved by Yoshinori Tateyama.

Tateyama got the final out of the second, but recorded only one out in the third, giving up seven hits and six earned runs.

„It’s really upsetting to have something like that happen to you when you’ve been working so hard,“ said Holland, who threw 41 pitches in the second inning after a breezing through the first in 10.

„I did not give my team a chance to win,“ he said. „It’s a big letdown on my part.“

The Mariners added four more in the eighth. Ackley reached and scored on Seager’s double, his fourth hit, and Montero walked for the second time before Smoak hit his second home run.

The Rangers tried to make a game of it, sending nine men to the plate in scoring five runs in the sixth. Texas added two in the seventh.

„I wish I wouldnt have given up a couple of those runs that last inning,“ said Beavan, who gave up five runs on eight hits with no walks and two strikeouts in six innings.

„But thats how it goes when you just go after guys and youre throwing majority fastballs and youve got a lead like that,“ Beavan added.

Outfielder Josh Hamilton, who was back in the lineup after missing the previous two games with a respiratory illness, was 2-for-4 with two doubles, one a run-scoring hit that increased his major league-leading RBI total to 57.

„We just couldn’t get anybody out in those two innings,“ Rangers manager Ron Washington said. „Guys swung the bat over there tonight.

„We’ve got to live with it and move on,“ he said. „That’s all we can do.“

NOTES: Hamilton has hit safely in 40 of 47 games this season Bruins jersey,the cheap authentic Vancouver Canucks jersey supply for cheap with discount price. Rangers manager Ron Washington gave shortstop Elvis Andrus the night off. Andrus acknowledged the time off was a mental break after he committed an error on Tuesday. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo threw out the ceremonial first pitch-high but across the plate-caught by Rangers reliever Mike Adams, a Cowboys season-ticket holder.

Posted in: Internet

Aberdeen chairman makes circumstance to press through league reconstruction vote

12.4.2013 4.48 ⋅

That twelve SPL clubs will fulfill to obtain its state to the offered 12-12-18 construction and a raft regarding additional improvements into the country’s activity about Mon in addition to want a good 11-1 vote within favour to hold that engagement.

Milne states that Aberdeen will vote ‘yes’ about Mon in addition to explained that decision shall be regarding essential skilled dallas pest control for any future in the activity.

That Dons chairman explained the fact that risky circumstance several clubs found themselves within may only end up being addressed by using a good increase regarding fresh cash which any update in the construction regarding Scottish football may provide which.

St Mirren have previously established that they will oppose that blueprints from Monday’s vote, which means singular a lot more crew might need to vote alongside the idea to drain that engagement.

Milne explained which this individual disagreed by using St Mirren counterpart Stewart Gilmour in addition to appeared to be also disappointed the fact that membership experienced long gone criminal court with their worries.

Ross Region tend to be greatly acknowledged to hold on to worries in the blueprints nonetheless haven’t nonetheless established just how they will vote. Milne explained this individual appeared to be hopeful the fact that Highland membership in addition to its chairman Roy Mcgregor would have a look at that major snapshot whenever evaluating up its choices.Aberdeen chairman makes circumstance to press through league reconstruction vote

That twelve SPL clubs will fulfill to obtain its state to the offered 12-12-18 construction and a raft regarding additional improvements into the country’s activity about Mon in addition to want a good 11-1 vote within favour to hold that engagement.

Milne states that Aberdeen will vote ‘yes’ about Mon in addition to explained that cheap jerseys decision shall be regarding essential skilled dallas pest control for any future in the activity.

That Dons chairman explained the fact that risky circumstance several clubs found themselves within may only end up being addressed by using a good increase regarding fresh cash which any update in the construction regarding Scottish football may provide which.

St Mirren have previously established that they will oppose that blueprints from Monday’s vote, which means singular a lot more crew might need to vote alongside the idea to drain that engagement.

Milne explained which this individual disagreed by using St Mirren counterpart Stewart Gilmour in addition to appeared to be also disappointed the fact that http://goods-sporting.webs.com/ membership experienced long gone criminal court with their worries.

Ross Region tend to be greatly acknowledged to hold on to worries in the blueprints nonetheless haven’t nonetheless established just how they will vote. Milne explained this individual appeared to be hopeful the fact that Highland membership in addition to its chairman Roy Mcgregor would have a look at that major snapshot whenever evaluating up its choices.

Posted in: Ostatní ⋅ Tagged: , ,