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Dead Man's Burden
Reeling from a Civil War that divided both their country and their family, a brother and sister reunite on the western frontier only to uncover each other's unforgivable secrets.

Starring Barlow Jacobs, Clare Bowen, David Call, Joseph Lyle Taylor

Directed by Jared Moshe

Running Time - 1:33
Genre - Western
Opened in Theaters - Friday, May 3rd, 2013

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Watch That Sweat!

The oddest thing happened on my Sunday ride. I was about six or eight miles from the end, when suddenly, I couldn’t shift from the big ring down to the small ring.

This was problematical, because at the time, I was approaching the crest of a hill, and I needed the easier effort the small ring would give me to get over the top. I back pedaled — something I never do — and downshifted the rear cogset. That did the trick, and I was in the small ring again.

But the same thing happened throughout the rest of the ride, until for the last two miles, I kept the thing in the small chainring, even when I had an inviting downward grade.

The next afternoon, I took the bike over to our club mechanic’s house. (It’s nice to have a “club mechanic” — in this case, a member with over 20 year experience “making money off of fixing bikes” who at one time was wrench for a pro team.)

“So, won’t shift down to the small ring, huh?” he asked.

His next question startled me.

“Are you a heavy sweater?”

I did a double take.

“Yeah, I am,” I replied. “Does that have something to do with it?”

He got the bike up on the stand and checked it over.

“I’m already seeing some corrosion on the brakes,” he said. “And here on the front derailleur, too.”

“That’s really strange,” I said. “It was shifting fine, and then suddenly, I couldn’t get it to shift down.”

“It was the straw that broke the camel’s back,” he retorted. “You thought it was shifting just fine, but it probably wasn’t. You’d just gotten used to it.”

There might be something to that. I’ve had some balky shifts in recent weeks. But I thought that was my lack of shifting technique, not my sweat. I watched him as he took out a bottle of lube and went to work.

“Front derailleur, front brakes, bottom bracket, rear brakes, in that order,” he lectured. “That’s what’s most affected by sweating. The rear derailleur rarely, if ever.”

He squirted some lube on the brake pivots.

“Pay attention to the pivots,” he said.

He shot some lube into the brake grip pivots, then pulled loose the brake and shifter cables and applied a light coat of grease to them. Then he cranked the pedals and started shifting through the gears — snick, snick, snick. Now it was time for the moment of truth — he changed hands to shift the front derailleur.

Click, click, it went. He shifted between the large and small rings several times. Each time, the shift was smoother than the previous.

“I think that’s got it,” he said, wiping his hands on a clean rag.

“So the trick is to keep everything clean,” I observed.

“I recommend that everyone at the very least wipe down their bikes at the end of the ride.”

I paid him for his trouble (he charges a pittance, compared to the LBS), loaded the bike into the car, and headed home.

This morning when I got home from my ride, I found a clean towel and went over the bike.

  1. Joe says

    I routinely clean the bike after longer rides. If I’m feeling generous I clean my wife’s. Mine rarely has shifting or brake problems. Her’s often does. Coincidence?

  2. says

    I have a similar problem and have had to replace both shifter cables and a brake cable on my mountain bike. the sweat was hitting the top tube and then running down onto the exposed sections of the cables and eventually gumming up the housing. Just Sunday I watched with horror as a drop of sweat landed on my headset and promptly disappeared down into it.. great, just what I need, another time bomb to worry about.

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Yellowstone Bank expands into Bakken

2014-04-25T20:30:00Z 2014-04-25T20:58:04Z Yellowstone Bank expands into BakkenBy ERIK OLSON The Billings Gazette

Billings-based Yellowstone Bank officials said Friday they will make their first big move into the Bakken region, acquiring the Sidney branch of 1st Bank.

Officials at the two banks jointly announced they have signed a purchase agreement for the bank at 120 Second St. N.W., in Sidney. 1st Bank will transfer its headquarters to its Broadus branch.

Officials expect to close the sale in the third week of September. Yellowstone will acquire about $110 million in deposits and $40 million in loans. The two sides declined to announce a sale price.

Jay Harris, Yellowstone Bank president, said he expects a “seamless transition” for depositors in Sidney. They will also have access to more services at Yellowstone, such as electronic statements and mobile banking, he said.

Yellowstone Bank has seven branches, mostly in the Billings area and down the valley toward the Beartooths. The bank last expanded when it opened a Bozeman branch in 2007. It has about $500 million in total assets.

Harris added that he’s excited to expand into the booming Bakken region, and he expects Yellowstone will continue to focus on small-business lending.

“The more we can know about (the Bakken) as an institution, the more we can help our customers, and that’s a good thing,” Harris said.

Yellowstone will keep 1st Bank’s 13 employees in Sidney, Harris said. Brad Franklin will be president of the Sidney branch.

In a written statement, 1st Bank President John Franklin, Brad Franklin’s father, said major stockholders and directors are past retirement age and were looking to sell.

Larger banks were also interested, but Yellowstone was considered the “best fit” because of its focus on agriculture and small business lending, Franklin said.

“We just felt like they, being a small bank, would relate to our customers,” Franklin said.

1st Bank was founded in 1975 as 1st United Bank of Sidney.

Copyright 2015 The Billings Gazette. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Health China

Oncology: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Total Score People Score Events Score
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Date Event Presentation Speakers
May 31, 2013 ASCO Annual Meeting 2013 Education Sessions Matt Vander Heiden
April 6, 2013 AACR Annual Meetings Cross-Species Analysis of Mouse and Human Cancer Chairperson: David J. Adams, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom Tyler Jacks
February 8, 2011 Clinical Trial Forecasting, Budgeting, and Project Management Mapping the Global Utilization of Clinical Research Capacity in Oncology Trials Fabio Thiers
October 20, 2010 6th Annual Meeting of the Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society Knocking down barriers: Advances in RNAi delivery Daniel G Anderson
September 27, 2010 25th Annual Critical Issues in Tumor Microenvironment, Angiogenesis and Metastasis: from Bench to Bedside to Biomarkers Drug Delivery Systems for Angiogenesis Inhibitors and Other Biomolecules Robert S. Langer
March 9, 2009 Drug Development Latin America NFORMAL BREAK-OUT ROUNDTABLES Fabio Thiers
February 3, 2009 Cancer Health Disparities CONCURRENT SESSIONS Diana G Jeffery
January 5, 2009 High Content Analysis Designer Self-Assembling Peptide Nanofiber Scaffold for 3D Cell Cultures: Implications for High-Content Drug Discovery Shuguang Zhang
April 27, 2008 Phage Display of Antibodies and Peptides SELECTION IN COMPLEX SYSTEMS: CREATING FUNCTIONALLY DIVERSE LIBRARIES Chairperson’s Opening Remarks Karl Dane Wittrup
March 25, 2008 Clinical Trials Asia The Strategic Planning Behind the Clinical Site Allocation in Emerging Economies: An Industry-Wide View Fabio Thiers
Biotech China 2014
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Polls Show Obama Taking Lead in Virginia and Florida

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Ohio polls reported the president having an eight percentage point lead over Mitt Romney with 51 to 43 percent. The Ohio results proved to be much better than the previous poll conducted shortly after the Democratic National Convention.

Polls conducted by Columbus Dispatch showed Obama leading by four percentage points while voice-recorded polls administered by Public Policy Polling revealed a nine percentage point lead for the president.

The Huffington Posts’ Pollster Tracking Model shows no major shift in Obama’s leading position on the national level. In comparison to a week ago, the president is currently leading nationally by four percentage points.

Despite Obama’s lead, the polls are still very close. It may only take a small bump in Romney’s favor to heighten the competition.

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Go Back   New Orleans Saints - blackandgold.com > Main > Saints

Hitting the 500 point mark

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; Hitting the 500-point mark | HoumaToday.com...

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Exclamation Hitting the 500 point mark

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I remember back in the Ditka years that Louisiana Special Olympics had a campaign where you pledge so much per Saints TD for the season.

I did it for a few years and then they discontinued it (I think in Haslett's 1st year - 2000).

Shame they didn't keep it up - they would have made out like bandits since Payton has been here!
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I don't care that Steve Smith has had a "revival" & was a good player...

He is a no class BOOR. His performance on the filed does NOT make up for his behavior (on & off the field!!)
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Jesse Herriott: What We Can Learn From Steve Harvey Crying On-Screen

steve-harveyBy Rev. Jesse Herriott

In a recent episode of the Steve Harvey show, the producers shocked the host by locating someone that Harvey had not seen or heard from in about 30 years. Rich and Becky Liss have a history with the superstar host, and comedian that brought out his rather soft side.

The backdrop of the story suggests that the couple did something that all of us can attest to, whether we have experienced it or not- they helped Steve during a time in his life when he needed it the most.  If one was to take a brief look at Harvey, about thirty years ago, they probably wouldn’t recognize him because it was during this time that he was still molding his gift and charting his course. Now, some thirty years later, I’m sure there were maybe about one or two folks that could’ve dreamed of the success that he has today.  If it were not for individuals such as Rich and Becky Liss that believed in Steve, and helped him to the best of their ability, perhaps his life would’ve been a bit different.

The biggest investment that you can make, other than in your own life, is in the life of someone else that’s trying to build a better future. Of course, all investments require a worthy candidate. Nevertheless, perhaps the biggest lesson from this story is that we all should remember not to count folks out so quickly because all doors seem to open in time, and you never know where a person may end up later on down the road.

Rev. Jesse Herriott is a priest; writer and adjunct professor based out of Atlanta, GA. Jesse is completing a PhD in Psychology from NorthCentral University. Jesse’s work bridges both Depth Psychology and Spirituality. In addition, Jesse is also a contributor to,, and Jesse can be heard live every Tuesday at 9am Central on Unity Online Radio on his breakout show entitled, “Living on Purpose”, where he interviews bestselling authors, teachers and speakers and shares principles for living a more fulfilling life. Learn more at

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Pics Barry's Boot Camp, Kim Kardashian Working Out | Robert Littal Presents BlackSportsOnline

Pics: Kim Kardashian Working Out at Barry’s Booty Boot Camp

by Robert Littal | Posted on Thursday, June 2nd, 2011
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Kim Kardashian

Picture 7 of 7

Kim Kardashian takes her booty to Barry's Bootcamp. June 2, 2011

While we are waiting to see Kimmy and The Hump wedding goes on pay per view (it will be better than Pacquiao vs. Mosley) we had an interesting debate on twitter.

If you had your choice, which Kardashian would you want to spend the rest of your life with (or at least until the divorce)?

Vote in the poll below.

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Deron Williams & Jason Kidd Are Package Deal Meeting With Mavs & Nets | Robert Littal Presents BlackSportsOnline

Deron Williams to Meet With Nets & Mavs..Jason Kidd Will Go Wherever Williams Goes

by Robert Littal | Posted on Saturday, June 30th, 2012
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It is like a 2 for 1 special.

Wherever Deron Williams signs as free agent, you also get a back up point guard in Jason Kidd. Not a bad deal for either the Nets or Mavs.

Brooklyn seems to be the preferred destination, but the Mavs are still in it.

Deron Williams, the most coveted player in this summer’s free-agent class, will meet with representatives from the Brooklyn Nets and Dallas Mavericks on Monday before deciding which team to sign with this July, according to a source privy to Williams’ plan.

Mavericks free-agent point guard Jason Kidd will also join whichever team Williams chooses, sources said.

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BCS Controversy: Pac-12 and Big Ten Are More Than Welcome to Play Their Own Game

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BCS Controversy: Pac-12 and Big Ten Are More Than Welcome to Play Their Own Game
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The Big Ten and the Pac-12 are starting up their own "conference alliance" of sorts in the 2017 season.

The measure would pit the conferences against one another on the gridiron as well as in all other sports in an effort to grow their relationship and ensure quality play between opponents. Larry Scott and Jim Delany, the commissioners of the two leagues, are attached at the hip with respect to their goals in the battle to bring a playoff event to college football.

Rachel Bachman of the Wall Street Journal has an even more innovative plan; a plan that would truly separate the two leagues in a beautifully exclusive relationship of sorts:

The schools of the Big Ten and Pac-12, whose shared history dates to the early 20th century, need to push away from this diabolical poker table, hail a pedicab for two, make their way to the airport and book a flight to Pasadena, Calif. They need to renew their vows and pledge themselves to serve the greater glory of the best thing about college football: the Rose Bowl.

That's right. She is proposing that both Delany and Scott remove their leagues from the fray, pick up their ball and go play in the Rose Bowl, alone. I'll tell you what, I'm not hating this plan. In fact, I support it wholeheartedly. The Big Ten and the Pac-12 should join forces and focus their energies on playing with each other and playing the Rose Bowl.

For one, it would stop teams like Ohio State (twice) and Oregon from taking losses in the national championship game. It would stop TCU from having to beat Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. It would stop teams like Illinois and Michigan from being embarrassed by the Pac-12 champion. Rather, it would put Ohio State in those games.

Would you like to see the Pac-12 and Big Ten secede and just focus on the Rose Bowl?

Submit Vote vote to see results

If the Big Ten and Pac-12 are hellbent on preserving the Rose Bowl, then this is the best route to do so. The two leagues can have their own side game while the rest of the nation pushes for the crystal ball. Let the SEC, Big 12, ACC, Big East, MAC, MWC, Sun Belt, Conference-USA and Notre Dame play for all the marbles while the Big Ten and Pac-12 do their own thing.

From where I sit, this would be a bit of a blessing for those designing the four-team playoff. No more of Jim Delany's terrible, self-centered plans to limit the SEC's involvement in the playoff. No more of the hurt feelings over being "left out" because a west coast team does not get into the BCS title game they feel they deserved.

The Big Ten and Pac-12 would play each other and the rest of the college football world could do their own heavy lifting.

Please go. Seriously. There's the door, guys. I'm sure the fans will love knowing the Rose Bowl is their ceiling and they can hope for an AP national title at best come season's end. I'm sure the recruits will love knowing they are going to play the best of the best, as long as that team is in the Pac-12 or Big Ten.

They are more than welcome to go. If preserving the Rose Bowl is job one, then this is, without a doubt, is the best way to get that job done. Larry Scott and Jim Delany, your move guys.

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Cricket: End of an Era for the England Opening Batsmen but Who's Next in Line?

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Cricket: End of an Era for the England Opening Batsmen but Who's Next in Line?
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The disconcerting Andrew Strauss at his press conference

Andrew Strauss' reign as England's captain came to an end earlier this month when Strauss retired from all forms of cricket because he felt that he had nothing to give anymore.

This is going to leave a massive hole in the top of England's batting lineup.  Alistair Cook, Strauss' opening partner since Michael Vaughan retired in 2005, is now the English captain, but who will be walking to the crease alongside him when England take India in November?

First in the line has to be one of Yorkshire's brightest young guns, Joe Root.

Root has been in fantastic form for Yorkshire this season and has been a regular in the England Lions squad for some time now. Root scored 222 against Hampshire this season and averages 40.02 in First Class cricket.

He won't be short of Yorkshire colleagues to welcome him into the England squad, should he be selected. Jonny Bairstow, who scored a fantastic century against South Africa in the last npower test of the summer, along with Tim Bresnan, are both regulars in the England test squad now. Root was picked as an opener alongside Eoin Morgan in the recent England Lions game against Australia A.

Morgan is another player who could step into the squad now that Strauss has retired. He could comfortably open the batting as I mentioned previously, having done so recently for the England Lions.

His inclusion could mean that Jonathon Trott could sneak into the opening role, having done so with the One Dayers in recent times; it is not something that he would be scared to do. This would mean that the young Irishman, Morgan, would slip back into the top six at possibly No. 4 with James Taylor and Bairstow following behind him.

If England didn't open with Trott, could England go with the prolific Nick Compton?

Compton has been in sublime form this season and would have been the fastest person to 1000 runs in an English season if the rain hadn't been an issue in the middle of the season. Since moving to Somerset in 2010, Compton's batting has been much talked about, and he has had an average of 61.63, since his move from Middlesex.

Samit Patel in action for the England lions

Another name that always appears with England these days is Samit Patel.

Again, he has been in the Lions squad with the One Day side and Twenty20 squad now for numerous years. His batting, along with his left arm spin, give him a massive advantage over some of the other batsmen, and he may be used as a second spinner while out in India.

Now back to the openers: We have the Twenty20 opening batsman Alex Hales next under the radar.

Hales has again been in great form for Nottinghamshire this season, and at the age of 23, he has many years ahead of him. He currently averages 36.51 runs per innings at present, but surely this will only go up and up as his career continues. His top score came against Northamptonshire in 2011 when he scored 184.

Lancashire have had a disastrous season in 2012, but one of the lights at the end of the tunnel for them was the form of Paul Horton. Horton was born in Sydney but moved to Liverpool as a child and has lived over here ever since. His highest score was 206, and he also averages 38.39 in First Class cricket.

Finally, there is Hampshire left-hander Michael Carberry, who already has an England cap from when he toured Bangladesh back in 2010. He scored 32 in both innings and has been in the selectors' eyes for some time. He averaged 43.96 for Hampshire, and his highest score was 300 which he scored against Yorkshire back in 2010.

Only time will tell who Andy Flower will pick to be Strauss' replacement, but it's easy to say that England have a lot of options ahead of their tour to India later on in the year.

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Report: Multiple Teams Readying Offers for New York Giants' Victor Cruz

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Report: Multiple Teams Readying Offers for New York Giants' Victor Cruz
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The saga with Victor Cruz and the Giants has continued to drag on through March.

On the eve of NFL free agency, the team has yet to lock up Victor Cruz to a new contract.

According to Dan Benton of the Giants 101 blog, multiple teams are lining up offers for Cruz.

Benton sourced Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, who spoke on the NFL Access Show on Thursday night and broke the news on teams being interested in signing Cruz.

The 26-year-old wideout from Paterson finished his second consecutive 1,000-yard season, gaining 1,092 receiving yards with 10 touchdowns in 2012.

The team has been rumored to have more interest in locking up No. 1 receiver Hakeem Nicks as a priority over Cruz.

The one thing that is definitely strange about Rapoport's news of teams having an offer ready for Cruz is that if a team went public about said offer, that would be considered tampering, and the league would be forced to take action.

Also, as Benton cited in his story, you have to wonder just how serious these "offers" really are, especially since they're being reported just days before free agency starts.

It could just be strategy from Cruz's representation to try and make the Giants panic into offering Cruz a bigger deal.

What will happen with Victor Cruz and the Giants?

Submit Vote vote to see results

As a restricted free agent, some expect the Giants to put a first-round tender on Cruz, which would pay him $2.9 million for 2013, while the team could continue to negotiate a contract with the wide receiver.

Two things that could work in Cruz's favor is the Miami Dolphins recently signing Brian Hartline to a five-year, $31 million deal with $12.5 million guaranteed, and the Kansas City Chiefs signing Dwayne Bowe to a five-year, $56 million deal with $26 million guaranteed.

Cruz is a much better player than Hartline and could definitely look to get more money in a deal, especially one similar to Bowe's deal in Kansas City.

Rich Schultz/Getty Images

Generally, restricted free agents don't end up signing elsewhere because of the first-round draft pick that teams have to relinquish.

That was the case with Mike Wallace of the Steelers last year when he was a restricted free agent, as the 49ers were looking to sign him, but they ended up passing and Wallace returned to Pittsburgh for one more season.

I think if the Giants really feared Cruz leaving the team, they could have used the franchise tag on him, but instead decided to pass on using that on any player this season.

In the end, I think the Giants will tender Cruz for 2013 and work out a deal, either during OTAs or training camp.

The Giants don't want a holdout on their hands and Cruz has proven he can be reliable threat in the offense for the team.

A lot of fans are hopeful a deal will get worked out, and as long as Cruz sticks to his word of wanting to remain a Giant for a long time, then I expect the local kid to re-sign with the team that gave him his break in the NFL.

Stay tuned, Giants fans.

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Lorenzo Carter to Georgia: Bulldogs Land 5-Star DE Prospect

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Lorenzo Carter to Georgia: Bulldogs Land 5-Star DE Prospect
Credit: 247Sports

Mark Richt has landed his latest budding defensive star.

According to ESPN, 5-star defensive end prospect Lorenzo Carter committed to the Georgia Bulldogs on Wednesday:

Carter was one of the most highly coveted recruits in the class of 2014. He received offers from top programs all over the country, with some of his top interests including Georgia, Florida State, LSU, Florida and Alabama.

Heading into proceedings, it all but looked like a lock he would be a Bulldog. 247Sports' "crystal ball" had him at a 81 percent chance of landing in Athens as of Feb. 4, with Alabama at 16 percent as the only other school one could consider close. Still, Carter was diligent in his choice, meeting with coaches and hearing their pitches right down to the wire.

One of the more interesting and physically gifted talents in his class, the Bulldogs hope waiting around through the process will pay off. A standout at Norcross High School in Georgia, Carter is widely considered one of the best defensive end prospects in the nation and was perhaps the most sought-after undecided player heading into national signing day.

According to 247Sports' composite rankings, Carter is the second-best defensive end prospect, the best player in the state of Georgia and the 18th-best player in the country overall. Throw a stone at a major collegiate program and they've offered Carter a scholarship, which makes his decision to land at Georgia all the more noteworthy.

Listed as a defensive end by most recruiting services, it remains unclear where he'll ultimately fit initially. At 6'5" and 232 pounds, Carter has a wiry frame that ingratiates itself to more of a hybrid role. He has experience at both defensive end and outside linebacker, so the adjustment won't be too difficult—and most expect it to be temporary.

His frame is similar to that of many two-sport athletes, and Carter was also a stellar basketball player before focusing full time on football. In an interview with Derek Tyson of ESPN, Carter even admitted football was a learned love—not his first muse:

It was basketball for me early. Me and my family always played basketball. It was kind of weird being recruited for football because I had spent so much time playing basketball and developing for basketball and then football comes and I’m like ‘I guess I have to change my time and effort to football now.’

How do you think Carter will perform as a college player?

Submit Vote vote to see results

Once Carter hits the weight room and adds some much-needed bulk, he should morph into an elite weak-side defensive end. He already has shown elite quickness with his burst off the ball, getting past overmatched tackles with relative ease at the high school level. Though Carter's consistency and awareness could use some work, he should develop into a strong run-defender later in his career.

And while it's an underrated skill if your name isn't J.J. Watt, Carter's ability to swat down passes with his length gives him an added dimension.

Luckily for Carter, the stable of talent and sensational defensive coaching staff at Georgia point to him having the time and infrastructure to develop. It's hard to guarantee anything about a high school senior, but with Mark Richt's track record, we could be looking at a future star.

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Georgia Football: Bulldogs' Road to the 2013 BCS

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Georgia Football: Bulldogs' Road to the 2013 BCS
Frederick Breedon/Getty Images

If there’s one thing the Georgia Bulldogs demonstrated over the past two weeks, it’s that a few games can drastically change an entire season’s outlook.  Following back-to-back losses to SEC East counterparts Missouri and Vanderbilt, the Dawgs have fallen from seventh in both the AP and Coaches poll to unranked.

The Bulldogs are certainly down, but are they out?  As far as today’s first BCS Poll is concerned, the answer is  yes - at least for now.

Where Georgia Stands

Despite largely surviving a brutal early-season slate that featured three games against Top 10 opponents, the Bulldogs have fallen from a once lofty ranking and a 4-1 record to 4-3 overall as injuries, fatigue and inexperience have taken their toll.

Here’s how Georgia currently stacks up.

Georgia's Current Standing
Record AP Poll Coaches Poll Strength of Schedule BCS Poll
4-3 Unranked Unranked 3 Unranked

Biggest Obstacles to a BCS Berth

For Georgia to reach a BCS Bowl, the Bulldogs must win the Southeastern Conference.  The Dawgs have shown plenty of promise at times, but with injuries to the majority of the offense’s playmakers and a young defense that has not yet developed, it’s hard to determine Georgia’s true identity.

Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

If Georgia can get healthy and return to being a semblance of the team that lost a hard-fought game at Clemson before defeating both South Carolina and LSU, then this team still has a lot of upside.  However, if injuries continue to limit personnel and poor execution continues to disrupt momentum, this Georgia team may end up beating itself more often than not.

To be sure, the Florida Gators and the Auburn Tigers pose very real threats to Georgia’s chances in the SEC race.  The rivalry game with the Gators in two weeks is always highly contested, regardless of teams’ records.  And, Auburn has returned to prominence much more quickly than anticipated.

Nonetheless, health concerns on offense and maturity of a young defense remain the biggest obstacles for Georgia moving forward.

Help Needed

If Georgia can get past Florida on November 2nd, the Bulldogs will hold crucial tie-breakers over both the Gators and the South Carolina Gamecocks.  Heading into the season that seemed to be the key to winning the SEC East for a third consecutive year.  Unfortunately, like so many other preseason expectations for the Dawgs, that assumption has proved to be false.

The Missouri Tigers are 3-0 in the SEC East and hold an added advantage over the Dawgs thanks to a Mizzou win in Athens last weekend.  For Georgia to even get back to Atlanta for the SEC Championship, Missouri must give the Dawgs some help.  Assuming Georgia finds a way to win out, Missouri must drop three conference games from a slate that features South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ole Miss and Texas A&M.

From a polling standpoint, Georgia can return to prominence if South Carolina and LSU can get back on track by continuing to win games.  If Georgia can defeat Florida and Auburn and the wins against South Carolina and LSU are viewed in a more favorable light, the Bulldogs may once again be favored by the human voters and the computers.

Georgia's Remaining Schedule
November 2 Florida
November 9 Appalachian State
November 16 at Auburn
November 23 Kentucky
November 30 at Georgia Tech

The Big Picture

Right now, Georgia’s difficult schedule has proven to be detrimental to the Bulldogs success.  Had Georgia drawn a more manageable season opener and somehow avoided a hot Missouri team, the Bulldogs could be 6-1 at this juncture.  Of course, that doesn’t explain yesterday’s loss to Vanderbilt, but two fewer losses would serve the Bulldogs well.

However, if Georgia can get back to its winning ways, losses to Top 10 teams like Clemson and Missouri may prove to be less damaging.  And, if the Bulldogs find a way back to Atlanta for a matchup with the winner of the SEC West, they will get one final chance to prove themselves against truly elite competition.

Final Bowl Prediction

Georgia trails Missouri by two games in conference record and the Tigers hold an edge in head-to-head competition.  Combine all of that with a Bulldog trajectory that is trending down and decisively upward Missouri momentum, and it’s hard to anticipate Georgia sneaking back into the SEC Championship Game.

With a shot at a conference championship dwindling and three losses already notched against them, Georgia’s BCS Bowl chances have largely faded away.  Instead, the Bulldogs may be bound for a matchup with the Big Ten in either the Outback Bowl or the Gator Bowl.

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Spurs vs. Heat: Full TV Info and Odds for NBA Finals Game 4

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Spurs vs. Heat: Full TV Info and Odds for NBA Finals Game 4
Andy Lyons/Getty Images

When the San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat tip off for Game 4 of the NBA Finals, Miami will have to figure out how to adjust following an unexpected drubbing.

In Game 1, LeBron James' cramping turned a tightly contested battle into a double-digit San Antonio victory. The Heat gutted out a two-point Game 2 win at full strength. As the series shifted to Miami, where the Heat had been undefeated this postseason, it looked like the two-time defending champs had the clear edge.

Then the Spurs dropped 71 points in the first half on 76 percent shooting, running away with what was ultimately a 111-92 win. While the Heat seemed like they were in control before, San Antonio has now regained home-court advantage for the series to go along with a 2-1 lead.

2014 NBA Finals Schedule
Date Matchup Start Time (ET) Channel
Thursday, June 12 Game 4: Spurs at Heat 9 p.m. ABC
Sunday, June 15 Game 5: Heat at Spurs 8 p.m. ABC
Tuesday, June 17 Game 6: Spurs at Heat* 9 p.m. ABC
Friday, June 20 Game 7: Heat at Spurs* 9 p.m. ABC

Source: NBA.com *If necessary

Game 4 Odds (via Odds Shark): San Antonio Spurs at Miami Heat (-4.5)

So as the Heat look to even the series again, why does Vegas like them even more in Game 4?

Prior to Game 3, Odds Shark put the line at minus-3.5 for the Heat to win—basically crediting home-court advantage and otherwise considering it a toss-up. Now that Miami got embarrassed in front of their own fans, the Game 4 spread favors the Heat by a point more.

If that seems counterintuitive, there is some logic behind it.

As Dan Feldman of ProBasketballTalk points out, the Heat have excelled at bouncing back following postseason losses in the Big Three era.

The Heat are 13-0 following their last 13 playoff losses – forming a streak of 47 straight postseason games without consecutive losses. That ranks third all-time, and Miami could tie for second by the end of the 2014 Finals against the Spurs:

  • 54, Boston Celtics (1962-66)
  • 52, Chicago Bulls (1990-93)
  • 47, Miami Heat (2012-14)

Due to Miami's immense talent and Erik Spoelstra's ability to tweak his strategy mid-series, the Heat have consistently avoided back-to-back losses.

That is the macro view of this situation. The micro view involves how Miami will respond to the specific problems San Antonio poses in Game 4.

Let's start with the good news: Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green are going to miss a few more shots next time.

Normally most dangerous spotting up beyond the arc, Leonard and Green both made closing-out defenders pay, getting inside and finishing around the rim. That is not to say all their looks were easy, though. The Heat challenged the young Spurs wings, but they kept sinking shots they do not often take—let alone make.

Even without the offensive outburst, their staunch defensive play bodes well for San Antonio as the series progresses.

For the first time in this year's NBA Finals, Leonard was able to guard James without fouling, like he did throughout the 2013 series. If that becomes the norm again, San Antonio's defense becomes that much more dangerous.

Of course, Danny Green nabbing five steals a game would be nice too, but he is not going to keep doing that. Still, he can punish slower Miami swingmen with his athleticism, and the Heat will have to account for that going forward.

The biggest problem will be the matchup at point guard.

That positional showdown has turned into a nightmare for the Heat, as Mario Chalmers has delivered one of the most consistently poor performances in Finals history.

An important part of Miami's strategy in Game 2 involved playing James, Dwyane Wade and Ray Allen without either Chalmers or Norris Cole on the floor, trusting LeBron to handle the ball and mark Tony Parker. With the weak Heat link removed, Miami was able to lean on a stronger five-man unit and steal the road win.

Then Gregg Popovich adjusted in Game 3, playing Parker and Patty Mills together more so that Miami was forced to play a point guard again. Outside of James, no Heat player is quick enough for the task, so either Chalmers or Cole had to remain on the floor.

Other than encouraging Chalmers and hoping he becomes a useful player again, there is not a ton Spo can do about that. He is limited by the makeup of his roster in this situation. He will have to ride the hot hand, relatively speaking, from here on out, and that is not a promising prospect.

Parker and Mills blitzed Miami with their speed—the one element that, in the half court, they are not at all equipped to defend. Unless Spoelstra can get Chalmers to contain Parker and reestablish himself as a three-point threat, Miami's poised to snap its back-to-back streak.

 Spurs 106, Heat 98

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Why USMNT Goalkeeper Tim Howard Must Stay on for 2018 World Cup

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Why USMNT Goalkeeper Tim Howard Must Stay on for 2018 World Cup
Jamie McDonald/Getty Images
Does Howard have just one more World Cup in him?

Tim Howard could be forgiven for not wanting to think about the United States' 2018 World Cup campaign today. The same goes for United States men's national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann.

Both men were visibly wrung out by the Americans' 2-1 loss to Belgium in extra time in the round of 16 in Brazil. Especially Howard, whose transcendent performance kept the Americans on even terms against the Belgians through regulation time.

Without Howard, the Americans might well have lost by three, four or more goals in the first 90 minutes. That is why Howard must come back in 2018.

The Americans' performance in front of Howard was, well, not very good. Patriotic American supporters can rhapsodize about stuff like guts and heart all they like. The numbers in this case do not lie.

"Howard had 11 saves at the end of regulation after, turning away wave after wave of Belgium attacks," wrote Dan Itel for the Major League soccer website.

That was Belgium carving the Americans apart. Not Germany. Not Argentina. Not Brazil. Belgium. The Red Devils are certainly a very good team, but they are not great. The Americans made the Belgians look like Brazil's historic 1970 side.

Michael Steele/Getty Images
Belgium finally broke through in extra time.

If your keeper needs to make 11 saves in regulation against Belgium, at least a few of the 10 men in front of him are not doing their jobs.

After the Americans fly home and receive what rightly should be a welcome accorded to heroes—each of the four matches they played was entertaining and tenseKlinsmann will watch the match films again and see that he has four years to patch a lot of holes.

It is not like the Belgium match was a one-off. The Americans were never really in the game against Germany, and they were profligate in defense in the closing moments of the draw with Portugal.

Before he loads the incriminating video, though, Klinsmann should do whatever he can to convince Howard to commit to one more World Cup in 2018.

Howard is already on record as saying that his time playing at this level is short. "I would pretty much take it to the bank that I won't be playing past 40. There are other things I want to achieve in life, other things that I want to do," Howard said recently per a Fox Soccer report.

The contract extension Howard recently signed at Everton will carry him through to the end of the 2017-18 Premier League season, at which point he will be 39. Hopefully for Klinsmann and the American supporters, Howard timed the end of that contract to deliver him into one last World Cup run.

Klinsmann must convince Howard to give this one more shot.

There is a nucleus of young talent for Klinsmann to build around. Julian Green and John Brooks had fleeting but special moments of quality in Brazil. DeAndre Yedlin played more minutes than either of them and acquitted himself very well in the tournament.

Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler project to be part of the back line with Yedlin and Timmy Chandler in 2018. The midfield is reasonably sound with Michael Bradley (despite his poor 2014 World Cup), Mix Diskerud and Alejandro Bedoya likely joining Green.

And Jozy Altidore may already be burning for the chance to shine for the Americans in 2018 after his 2014 World Cup ended almost before it began.

The Americans figure to be a better side in 2018 through the improvement of the players returning and the replacement of some of the marginal talents Klinsmann had to rely on this time around with younger, more skilled players.

For Klinsmann, though, it should all start at the back. Howard proved against Belgium that even in the World Cup, an elite goalkeeper can make a pretender contend.

Just imagine what Howard might do in 2018 with a little bit more help in front of him.

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Gearing Up For Super Bowl XLIV

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Gearing Up For Super Bowl XLIV

While playing a lackluster first half in Denver an epiphany occurred in the Steeler locker room at half time. Must have, because when the Steelers and Broncos took the field for the second half, BAM, the Steelers took over. They made the Bronco's defense look like anything but the first ranked defense that the stats indicate.

As Cincinnati takes the field in Pittsburgh this week I'm thinking they are going to run into a train wreck. You can see the Steelers growing in leaps and bounds, both offensively and defensively, with each squad trying to best the other in performance. As I gaze into my crystal ball there seems to be the Roman numeral VII in the very near future.

Colts, Patriots, and Chargers beware, for lurking in the AFC North you will find a surging Steeler team, that won't be denied. I say Chargers as it is my belief the Broncos have been playing way over thier heads and are sinking down to the mediocre level they are used to.

Looking around on-line I see the Steelers are creeping back up in the power rankings. Seeing that all we need to do now is get the special teams cranking, and keep reducing the turn-overs. Keep in mind there are still four fingers to fill.

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Immigration Law Protesters Should Leave Arizona Teams Alone

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Immigration Law Protesters Should Leave Arizona Teams Alone

When Gov. Jan Brewer signed Arizona’s controversial immigration bill into law April 23, she, along with Arizona’s legislature, set the nation off into a fierce political debate.

According to an article in the New York Times, the law “makes[s] the failure to carry immigration documents a crime and give[s] the police broad power to detain anyone suspected of being in the country illegally."

The national debate over immigration has expanded to the point where it has found its way into the sports world, with the Phoenix Suns wearing “los Suns” (why not “los Soles”?) on their jerseys on Cinco de Mayo and the MLBPA voicing their discontent with the law.

Many are even calling for MLB Commissioner Bud Selig to move the 2011 All-Star Game from Arizona to another location in a gesture to aid the national “boycott” of Arizona.

While I admire my fellow citizens who use their First Amendment rights to voice their opinions and belief, protesters have crossed the line as of late regarding sports.

The recent protests of the Suns and the Arizona Diamondbacks at each team’s respective games—to put it bluntly—are stupid.

First off, what exactly are you protesting?

Last I checked, Steve Nash and Mark Reynolds are not active members of the Arizona state legislature.

What do protesters expect to accomplish by showing up in numbers to protest a group of athletes who have no say or input on the matter other than their constitutional right to vote?

It’s not as if the Diamondbacks bullpen can go to state legislature in Phoenix and magically get the law repealed—heck, they can barely do their assigned job (they started the week with a combined 7.55 ERA as of May 12).

Secondly, by protesting teams from Arizona, these protesters are arguably engaging in the prejudice that they so vehemently oppose—profiling.

If someone is Hispanic, that doesn’t automatically mean that said individual is an illegal immigrant and the same goes for teams from Arizona.

I believe it’s safe to say that not all Arizonians—or Americans, for that matter—actively support or advocate every policy enacted by their state government (e.g. opposition to Obamacare).

Additionally, it should be taken into account that these players are probably not all citizens of the state of Arizona, especially with the way free agency operates in sports nowadays.

Finally, please leave politics out of sports.

The sports world is one of the few arenas of life where party affiliation does not matter and people can get away from the complications of politics and government.

Bringing a political issue of this magnitude to the ballpark will accomplish little and is simply not the right move by those who oppose Arizona’s immigration policy.

I encourage the protesters to continue voicing their beliefs as it is a founding principle on which our government was built, but I ask that they keep it in the appropriate setting.

When you go to the game, leave the politics on the bench.

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Five Reasons Why Thierry Henry Will Not Make Soccer Popular in the USA

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Five Reasons Why Thierry Henry Will Not Make Soccer Popular in the USA
Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images

A debate that has been raging forever in America is about to breakout once again. Reports are out that after the World Cup in South Africa, France’s Thierry Henry will play for the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer.

Henry becomes the latest aging soccer star to come to the United States at the twilight of a great career. Knowing soccer fans in the USA, they will quickly claim that Henry coming to the states will start the boom that will make soccer one of the top sports in America.

This is not the first time an aging star was supposed to place soccer near the top of the sports world, not only in the USA but North America as well. Since the 1970s the sport of soccer was supposed to take off as one of the most watched sports in America.

The first soccer star brought to the states was the Brazilian great Pele in 1975 to the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League. In 1977, Pele helped lead the Cosmos to the league title in his final year with the club.

While the Cosmos regularly drew fans to their games but the rest of the league did not draw fans. Also, the league drew poor television ratings at a time when there were few television programs for the sport to contend with and the cable TV boom had yet to take place.

The boom Pele was supposed to start did not happen in TV ratings but did start a boom in youth soccer in America. Even thought the number of kids playing soccer has grown since the late '70s that still has not translated in to TV ratings over the same time period.

In 1994 the soccer boom was supposed to hit once more as the USA hosted the World Cup on home soil. Once the tournament starts in South Africa, all hopes will be that this is the World Cup that makes Americans stop and watch soccer.

Before Henry, the latest attempt to make soccer relevant in the USA was to bring David Beckham to the states. Beckham is known worldwide and has even inspired movies.

The world’s best know soccer star in America was greeted with fanfare and expectations. Then the novelty wore off as Americans turned to their first love football.

While there is nothing wrong with the Red Bulls bring Henry to America, anyone who thinks Henry will put soccer near the top of the sports heap in the USA is wrong.

New York might have be better served bring Henry’s former French teammate Zinedine Zidane to the US. Americans might tune in to see if Zidane head-butted, crotch kicked, or spit on another player.

Major League Soccer cannot even find a ratings boom with Beckham in America, so there is little chance MLS will fare better with Henry. If a British soccer star cannot bring ratings to the US, a French star stands less of a chance.

There are several reasons why soccer has not made headway into the United States. Americans understand the game and how it is played but they will not watch on TV.

Soccer faces an uphill climb in the United States if it wants to break into the top echelon of sports. There is room at the top for soccer to make a move to reach for but can soccer find away to get into the top tier.

In the United States the top sport is football and it is far and away the most popular sport.

Following football is basketball, and then baseball or NASCAR in the third spot.

Hockey has done more to hurt itself in labor disputes but has made headway and holds down the fourth spot. Soccer gets jumbled in with tennis, horseracing, boxing, MMA, and golf when Tiger Woods is not contending. Tiger in the hunt trumps everything but the NFL and the NBA.

To those few Americans and the rest of the world that loves the beautiful game, they do not understand why soccer is not bigger in the US. The biggest reason and one that does not need a lot of time spent on it is that America does contend in the sport.

Europeans and the rest of the world might not like it but we, as Americans, do not care about a sport unless we win at it or dominate it with regularity. The rest of the world thinks it American arrogance but in reality it is because we have so many other sports watching options.

Here are five reasons why soccer will never catch on in America.

Ties/lack of scoring

Americans love scoring and sports here have done everything possible to encourage more points. Through rule changes nearly every sport has tweaked rules to give fans more scoring.

Soccer is a great game, but it lacks scoring most of the time. Games often go very far into regulation before one team sneaks a goal past the keeper.

Plus if teams are tied at the end of regulation, the game ends in a tie. In America the hatred of ties goes back far.

In 1953, Navy coach Eddie Erdelatz famously said, “A tie is like kissing your sister,” after his team and Duke played to a scoreless tie. Ties are so hated in American sports even college football has made it nearly impossible for a game to end in a tie.

Baseball rarely if ever ends in a tie game; also, ask current commissioner Bud Selig how much hated ties are after the 2002 All-Star game ended in a 7-7 tie. Basketball games never end in a tie since both teams play as many overtimes as necessary until there is a winner.

Even Hockey has done away with ties in the regular season. The NHL plays overtime then goes to a shootout just so a game does not ends in a tie.

Soccer will never take off in America until the game can produce more scores and end tie games.

Flops, fake injuries, and magic spray

This is soccer’s biggest complaint by Americans. Players tend to flop and fake injuries all the time.

How many times do you see a player fall on the ground and roll around like they have just suffered a career ending injury, only to get up a second later and run all over the field? The flops and fake injuries just to get a call in soccer annoy Americans.

We like a sports stars tough and we are quick to turn on any player who seems soft. If a football player acted like a soccer player they would face media humiliation.

All though American sports lore are stories about athletes playing through injury. Think about Kirk Gibson on one knee hitting a home run in the 1988 World Series game one, or Willis Reed limping into Madison Square Garden for game seven of the 1970 NBA Finals.

There are countless times American football players have played though tough injuries in hopes of leading their team to a victory. These players would never roll on the ground and acted injured unless they truly were.

Sure, soccer fans will say this is gamesmanship and players are just trying to get a call for their team, but it is annoying. Every time a player is carted off the field on a stretcher and then returns to the game a minute later is plain sad.

Another thing soccer players used to do if they faked an injury was to roll around and then after being carried off the field the trainer would take a spray can out and blast the injury with it. This magic spray healed all injuries and players were able to run and jump and rejoin the game.

Until soccer finds toughness it will never find a place in the heart of Americans.

Strange playoffs

This is real simple. There are no first legs or second legs. There is no way where away goals count more than home goals.

Americans want a clear winner and either a winner-takes-all playoff system or a best-of-whatever playoff system. Also no playoff game should ever end in a tie.

Playoff games should have finality to them not end in ties. Soccer has to find away to fix its system of playoffs. Still, what is worst is playing a whole regular season and having no playoffs.

Europe’s biggest soccer leagues do not have a playoff system. That is just plain annoying to Americans as well.

Soccer will always find a back seat to other sports with a strange playoff system and lack of drama.

No instant replay

Officials are human and they make mistakes but Americans want the mistakes fixed if possible. Nearly every sports league in the USA uses some form of instant replay.

Americans would not stand for a team making the playoffs (in this case the World Cup) by a blatant handball. With all the advances in video replay and different camera angles would make it impossible for such a thing to exist in American sports.

There is no way we at this stage of our sporting lives can commit to a league or a sport that shuns replay. We want the outcome decided correctly and not from lack of replay but because of it.

Soccer add replay if you truly want Americans to watch your sport.

No commercials

This is kind of nitpicking, but the lack of commercials hurt soccer in America. While Europe and the rest of world have built their sports watching in a pub form, America has not.

We have sports bars, but half the time you cannot even hear the game and sometimes cannot even find the game on that you want to watch. So we like to watch at home and even if we are at a sports bar, we want commercials.

Why do we want commercials? Well, so we can go to the bathroom and grab another beer.

We do not want to miss any of the action while the game is going on. So we really do not mind when a commercial comes on.

It gives us a chance to get food, drink and, bathroom breaks in. Soccer does not allow for that unless you can see a TV at all times.

Plus how else can you tell your wife you are going to do something at the next commercial break if there never is one. Then you have to listen to your wife nag and nag until you can get whatever she wants done, done.

It is not a huge deal but soccer would help its cause in America by adding a little commercial time during each half.

I personally like soccer and enjoy watching the sport every chance I get. That is as long as it does not interrupt my first love of football.

The World Cup is the second best world event to me behind the Olympics and I will watch every game. I have no agenda against the game of soccer.

I do recognize why the sport has not been able to take off in America. It is not because Americans hate the sport but because we dislike little things about the sport.

We do not dominate the sport or pose a realistic chance at winning major FIFA tournaments so Americans do not follow the sport as close as other sports. Look how well Americans follow baseball now that we are not a major world power.

The sport of soccer will continue to make slow growth but without minor tweaks it will never rise from the bottom of the sports landscape. It does not matter what aging star a MLS brings to America.

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Ranking College Football's Top 50 Teams with Schedule Posters

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Ranking College Football's Top 50 Teams with Schedule Posters

The idea seemed like a lot of fun: contact the media relations offices of all 120 Division I Football Bowl Subdivision teams and ask them for their 2010 poster.

There are some I’m still waiting to hear from after three emails (yes, Michigan, I’m talking about you) and there are many who have cut out posters because of budget cuts. I’ve seen some outstanding posters from teams that never sent them to me, so if you didn’t take the time to email me one you’re not included in the rankings.

Then there are the nearly 70 who were kind of enough to send me an electronic version of their poster (or posters…thanks to Vanderbilt for the four versions that are consistent with an advertising campaign).

The original goal was to rank them by conference and the do a Top 25. Only one problem…I didn’t get a complete set from any conference. So that brings us to now.

With the help of Ryan, an art director by day and podcaster at www.brothersin3-z.com when the mood hits him, we individually graded each poster on the following criteria:

1. Clarity (Is it clear who the poster is for?)
2. Schedule (Clear and easy to follow)
3. Photo quality
4. Uniqueness/Creativity
5. Eye appeal
6. “Coolness” factor

In the event of a tie, the team with the highest individual category score was placed on top and so on. Each category was graded from 1-10, with 10 being the best. The best overall category score is 20, the best overall score on any individual ballot is 60 and the best overall score is 120.

Thanks again to all of the SIDs and marketing folks who were kind enough to forward me the images that you’ll see today.

So come along for the ride with us as we ranked No. 50 to No. 1.

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AFC West Title Brought To You By the Letter C: Chiefs-Chargers Collision Course

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AFC West Title Brought To You By the Letter C: Chiefs-Chargers Collision Course
Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

The last few weeks the Chiefs QB Matt Cassel, RB Jamaal Charles and pass catching circus act WR Dwayne Bowe have been crushing the competition's confidence with an incredible cohesion of pass and run that's crippling Johnny come-latelys. On Sunday it was more of the same.

Bowe caught 13 balls for 170 yards and three TDs; Charles carried the cargo 22 times for 173 yards with a coffin closing TD of his own; and Cassel completed 22 of 32 throws for 233 yards and four scores in a 42-24 route over the Seattle Seahawks.

Later that evening, the Chiefs' AFC West counterparts, the San Diego Chargers, were crashing down cavalierly on the Colts with a cavalcade of carries, counters and cuts from bulldozing running back Mike Tolbert.

Between Tolbert's carries, kicker Nate Kaeding's kicks and the defense's picks of Peyton Manning, the Chargers put up 36 points while blowing out the Colts 36-14 without QB Philip Rivers throwing even one TD pass. This is uncharacteristic of the Chargers, who have relied heavily on the cannon-armed quarterback Rivers chucking pass after pass resulting in catch after catch.

Rivers is in the midst of a very strong MVP campaign and was coming off of the conquest of a collapsing Broncos club in which he compiled 233 yards and four TD passes with an efficiency rating over the century mark in his third consecutive contest. The streak continued at the Colts.

It's playoff do or die time: Will the Chiefs take the next step, or will the Chargers keep living on borrowed time for one more year?

Submit Vote vote to see results

With Christmas coming right around the corner, the competition for conference conquest continues to creep ever closer. Getting to the playoffs is the first step in this journey, and just fifteen calender days before the celebration of the Christian Christ's birth, AFC West fans will be blessed with early tidings of Christmas cheer as they eagerly await the upcoming clash between the Chargers and Chiefs.

With the Raiders and Broncos basically on the outside looking in, the West has come down to a two horse race between the Chiefs and Chargers, who play one another on December 12th. With the Chiefs sitting at 7-4 and up one game on the 6-5 Chargers, this game could very well decide the division championship.

The Chiefs have beaten the Chargers once this year, but the Chargers will get their chance to even up the head to head standings between themselves and the Chiefs. The remaining schedule for both teams is favorable.

Though no games in the NFL should be viewed as easy wins, there are some games that a team should be expected to win. The rest of the 2010 season is full of those games for both of these teams.

If the Chiefs play the Broncos at Arrowhead this week and the Chargers play the Raiders in San Diego on the same day, Week 13 should set up nicely the showdown for the wild wild West. I'll lay out the tie-breakers for you and give you the implications of all Week 14 scenarios for all the relevant ways that Week 13 could shape up.

The first tie breaker is head to head record.

If that is a draw, the next one is division record.

If that is also a push, it goes to best record in games with like opponents.

If that is also a draw, the next tie breaker is record within the conference.

Currently, the Chiefs and Chargers are both 1-2 in the division with two more home games and one more road game remaining. Basically, no matter what happens this week, if the Chiefs can beat the Chargers in Week 14 they will win the division.

Even if the Chargers win and the Chiefs lose in Week 13, a Chiefs victory in Week 14 would give the Chiefs a one game lead again plus the tie breaker, making the Chiefs' lead two games in essence with three games remaining on their schedule.

If the Chiefs win this week and the Chargers lose, a Chiefs loss in Week 14 means the division race will probably come down to Week 17 in which the Chiefs play the Raiders at Arrowhead and the Chargers play the Broncos in Denver.

If the Chiefs beat the Chargers in this scenario, it would put the Chiefs up three games plus they would own the tie-breaker, making it mathematically impossible for the Chargers to overtake the Chiefs in the last three weeks of the 2010 season.

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

If this thing comes down to tie-breakers, it's going to get sticky. This is almost definitely going to happen if the Chiefs can't pull out a win in San Diego. I hate "if the season ended today" scenarios when they are used in an argument about absolutes, so I'm not going to use one of them.

I will instead inform you that as of right now both the Chiefs and Chargers are tied at 1-2 in the west and play every team in the division once more. If the Chiefs lose to the Chargers and the two end up tied at the end of the season, the Chiefs will need the Chargers to lose one of their other division games so that they don't lose out on the playoffs due to the second tie breaker.

In the case that this were to happen, the tie would be broken by the Chiefs and Chargers record against teams that they have both faced this year. The Chiefs are 3-4 to the Chargers 5-2 against like opponents. If the tie breaker comes down to this, we're out. The only way we can make up ground in this category is to win the division outright.

So with all of that now laid out for you, it's obvious why the Chiefs have to finish ahead of the Chargers this season or beat them in Week 14 if they want to get into the final field of 12.

The Week 14 Chiefs vs. Chargers cage match clash in California will be chalked full of competition, congratulations and consequence. The camaraderie between team captains and their company will be challenged as "Chief" Cassel contends River's kingdom, leading his Charge against the Chargers.

With Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles in charge of churning out chunks of challenged yardage, the Chiefs should cherish the chance to change the culture of the conference, starting with capturing the AFC West crown.

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Handing Out the Hardware, Part VIII: N.L. Most Valuable Player & Recap of Awards

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Handing Out the Hardware, Part VIII: N.L. Most Valuable Player & Recap of Awards

Well, another series has come and gone. We’ve looked at Gold Gloves, Rookie of the Years, and Cy Youngs. Now, we wrap up not only the Most Valuable Player series, but the entire eight part series of “Handing Out the Hardware.”

Before I give out my final award, the National League MVP, I want to recap all of the awards thus far.

Gold Gloves

AL – Roy Halladay

NL – Brandon Webb

AL – Dioner Navarro

NL – Jason Kendall

First Base

AL – Lyle Overbay

NL – Albert Pujols

Second Base

AL – Dustin Pedroia

NL – Brandon Phillips

Third Base

AL – Adrian Beltre

NL – Troy Glaus

AL – Michael Young

NL – Miguel Tejada

AL – Torii Hunter, Nick Markakis, Grady Sizemore

NL – Ryan Braun, Nate McLouth, Hunter Pence

Rookie of the Year

AL – Evan Longoria

NL – Geovany Soto

Cy Young

AL – Roy Halladay

NL – Tim Lincecum

Most Valuable Player

AL – Carlos Quentin

Ok, now that that is finished, let’s finish this series up, shall we? To finish up this eight-part series, I’ll hand the 2008 National League Most Valuable Player award to:

Albert Pujols 1B, St. Louis Cardinals

Let it be known, there is no bias in this pick. True, I am a huge Cardinals fan, and Albert is my homeboy, but I’m picking Pujols based on what I base MVP off of: best player in the league.

Pujols has just been a machine this year. He has the “balky elbow,” that has popped up again here recently, and yet he’s tearing it up. He has, officially (as I write this), driven in 100 runs for an eighth-straight season.

He also has 33 home runs and is in a heated battle with Chipper Jones, of the Atlanta Braves, for a batting title (now batting .362 after his run batted in double in the bottom of the sixth).

He has led the Cardinals all season long from a predicted 90 loss season to a more-than-likely winning season. He has struck out 49 times and is bound for 100 walks. He’s second in the NL with hits (tied for seventh in the majors), and he’s scored 91 times, or has accounted for 158 total runs. Oh, did I mention he leads the majors in on-base percentage (.466), slugging (.655), and on-base plus slugging percentage (1.122).

Honorable Mention

Carlos Delgado 1B, New York Mets

Sorry Mets fans, but Delgado doesn’t take the cake this year. He has been huge for the resurgence of the Mets, but you can’t really base it off of that. His resurgence started when Jerry Randolph was ousted, same with the club’s resurgence. Those factor into the decision and really says, at least to me, that Randolph was the problem and everyone on team feels like playing better without him. Look at Jose Reyes and David Wright. Again, sorry. Delgado’s been great, just not the most valuable.

Larry “Chipper” Jones 3B, Atlanta Braves

This is truly an honorable mention. Early in the season, Jones was on fire. A small injury set him back and he hasn’t been on such a tear since. His team has also fallen off the map, as has his production. He’s still in the batting-title race and is still a monster with the bat, but he only gets an honorable mention.

Aramis Ramirez 3B/Alfonso Soriano OF, Chicago Cubs

Well, let that multiple curse start again. Ramirez and Soriano have proven their worth. When they are missing from that Cubs' lineup, the Cubs don’t play as well. I don’t mean a day off, I mean extended time from injury. They are the heart and soul of that lineup, but will cancel out votes because the Cubs need both to do well.

Same goes for Kevin Youkilis and Pedroia from Boston. You want to vote them MVP, but you can’t really make an argument that one, not both, is the MVP.

Ok, it’s over. As much fun as this has been, I really enjoy just randomly thinking of something to write and writing it, rather than writing a complete series.

I hope you all have enjoyed this series because I have certainly enjoyed writing it. If you don’t agree with my picks, that’s your opinion, as my picks are my opinion. I do enjoy hearing your opinions, so if you can give them in a constructive way, I’d love reading them and debating with you. Debates are the best part of sports.

Have a great weekend!

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Has the Philadelphia Phillies' Chase Utley Regained His All-Star Form?

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Has the Philadelphia Phillies' Chase Utley Regained His All-Star Form?
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Utley still plays the game the same way, but is his bat still the same?

There have been few years where Phillies fans were as excited for Spring Training as they were for it this year.  The Phils had just recently come out of nowhere to give their fans an early Christmas present in the form of Cliff Lee.

There were talks of an historic rotation.  A team for the ages people would say. Then the news struck about Chase Utley.  At first his injury was downplayed.  Eventually the severity came out.  His career was in jeopardy.

The Phils jumped out to great start this season despite the absence of their All-Star second baseman.  They were able to overcome an anemic offense and have, for the most part, had the best record in baseball since late April.

After rumors that Utley would not be back until the All-Star break at the earliest, the hard-nosed infielder made his return on May 23rd.  Since that point the Phils offense improved a run per game and has been the second-best offense in the National League.

As happy as people were for Utley's return, people soon began to grumble that he just was not the same player he used to be.  The knee condition had seemed to sap his power.  He was still a good ballplayer, just not the Chase Utley of old. Or so the narrative went.

But is this really the case?  Is Utley truly not the same player he was from 2005-2009 when he was hands down the best second baseman in baseball?  Looking at his numbers from last season and this season in comparison to his average year during that span would would seem to indicate that is the case.

2005-2009 .301 .388 .535 .922
2010 .275 .387 .445 .832
2011 .289 .383 .491 .874

A quick look at the numbers would seem to confirm the hypothesis.  While Utley still manages to get on-base at a similar rate, he is just not hitting for the same power he used to.

However, there is more to the story than just those numbers.  Utley did miss all of July with a broken thumb.  He rushed back early from the injury and clearly was not healthy, as he had a horrible August before rebounding for an improved September.  If you factor that in then his season looks much better.

That does not account for this year though.  To explain that, there is a saying Charlie Manuel likes to repeat every year in spring training.  He says that for a batter to be truly ready for the season, they need to get at least 70 or 80 at-bats.

Chase Utley missed spring training this year, so he had to collect those at-bats in the minors.  But he never fully reached that plateau in the minors.  It took 11 games in the major leagues before he achieved enough at-bats.  Here is a look at his numbers broken down by that threshold.

Minor Leagues 32 .281 .361 .438 .799
First 11 Games 41 .195 .298 .293 .591
Rest of Season 187 .310 .401 .535 .936

It would appear that reports of Chase Utley's decline may be a bit premature.  He may not be a 30 HR player any more, but he certainly appears to pack a lot of pop in that bat still.  Once Utley got his Charlie Manuel endorsed 70 at-bats, he kicked it into overdrive.

Funny thing is it literally happened the game after he hit the plateau.  Going into Game 11 he only had two extra-base hits and one multi-hit game.  Game 12 he had a three-hit day.  Soon thereafter he started hitting for extra bases.

All that is left is for Utley to manage his knee properly. To make sure he rests it occasionally to prevent future flareups.  The real test will be next season.  Can he play a full season?  He has proven his bat is still as strong as it has ever been.  Now he needs to prove he can stay on the field to use it.

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Arsenal Transfer News: Gunners Confirm Capture of Andre Santos

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Arsenal Transfer News: Gunners Confirm Capture of Andre Santos
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Santos adds experience to a youthful backline.

Arsenal have officially confirmed the signing of Brazilian defender Andre Santos from Fenerbahce.

"I am delighted to have signed for Arsenal," Santos said. "It was one of my dreams to play for a major European football club and I have accomplished this.

"I am very happy to be part of this team," he said. "All the Brazilians who came to this club spoke wonders about it and I am delighted to be part of the Arsenal family."

Arsenal had been connected with the left back following an embarrassing 8-2 defeat at the hands of Manchester United, with speculation heating up over the past few days.  It seemed only a matter of time before the signing went official.

The 28-year-old adds experience to a youthful back line.  Manager Arsene Wenger continues to look to bolster his defense, with a further deal for German international Per Mertesacker said to be in the cards.

Wenger has gone on record saying, “Santos is a quality player, with the ability to both defend well and get forward and help with attacks.

"He has experience in the Champions League and for Brazil and has proven he can deliver at the highest level. We welcome Santos to the club and look forward to him having a big impact for us.”

Santos will get his first shot at action against Swansea when league play resumes.  The club has confirmed that the player will claim the No. 11 shirt, with "A. Santos" printed on the back.

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Chicago Blackhawks' Sucess Will Rely on Captain Serious

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Chicago Blackhawks' Sucess Will Rely on Captain Serious
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Jonathan Toews will have to continue to lead for the Blackhawks to be successful this season.

After two straight losses, the Chicago Blackhawks were finally victorious on Thursday night with a 6-3 win against the lowly Columbus Blue Jackets.

Columbus is certainly the kind of team you want to face when you are in a rut. Either way, the Hawks did what they had to do.

One player emerged and that was captain, Jonathan Toews. Toews has always been quiet in demeanor but lately he has also been quiet on the ice.

Prior to Thursday's win, Toews only had three points in his last eight games. He is still a premier player and leads the league with a faceoff percentage of 62. Though battling as always in previous games, he looked like he had been pressing.

Against the Blue Jackets, he found himself with a new winger in Marian Hossa. Along with Viktor Stalberg on his other side, that line dominated the first period.

Toews opened up the scoring with a rebound strike and potted another first period goal to take a 2-1 lead. He added an assist on Hossa's third period marker to cap off a three-point night.

The second goal was a brutal effort by the Blue Jackets' Steve Mason. Regardless, it was the effort and drive by the captain that led to these tallies. He was taking care of the Hawks' end of the ice and creating chances offensively.

Changing the lines of course helped, but similarly to last season, it will have to be the performance of Jonathan Toews that carries the Hawks.

Last February, Toews kept the Hawks alive in the playoff hunt. During that stint, he was the NHL player of the month, scoring 21 points in 13 games. That performance may have been the biggest reason the Hawks stayed alive and ultimately made it into the postseason.

John Grieshop/Getty Images
Toews dazzled with three points against Columbus on Thursday.

Toews will not put those numbers up every month of the season, nor should he be expected to. What Hawks' fans should expect, and will get, is for Toews to be the best two-way player on the ice every night.

He spoke about the "little things" during his first intermission interview on Thursday and those are the things he does best. It's the backchecking and winning 50/50 battles. It's taking care of the puck, and being opportunistic at the other end of the ice.

That is what he will need to continue to do for the Hawks to be successful.

What you saw Thursday was a player that was tired of losing. It was a captain that decided he needed to lead by doing. It was a centerman who worked for his opportunities and cashed in.

The Blackhawks have more weapons in their arsenal than they did last season, but they will only go as far as No. 19 will take them. If he can raise his game when the team needs it most (as he did against Columbus), it will light a fire under this club.

If the Cup is to be within reach this season, the captain will have to continue assert his will.

Game Notes:

How much fun did Steve Montador have on Thursday night? Montador registered a Gordie Howe hat trick. He got in a fight and added power-play goal and a power-play assist to highlight his best game as a Blackhawk.

With his breakaway goal in the second period, Patrick Kane notched his eighth point in his last six games.

Thanks for reading.

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Bobby Lewis

Bobby Lewis

I am a junior at the University of North Texas. I love sports (watching and playing). I am majoring in journalism so I'm writing articles to try to get my opinions out there and to get some experience for what I want to do when I graduate.

And to all that read and/or leave feedback on my articles, thank you so much, I really appreciate it.

Bulletin Board

or to post this comment
  • Terry Robinson posted 1921 days ago

    Terry Robinson

    What are you thinking about the Celts now? Just curious. They got shafted tonight, imo. This thing is now getting stupid.

  • Terry Robinson posted 1953 days ago

    Terry Robinson

    I agree a trade would be kind of ridiculous, but I have no problem with the suspension, especially since treatment is part of the bargain. Hey, I got three daughters, what can I say? People are squawkin' that he didn't get charged with anything, so the league is overstepping its bounds, but these people don't take into the consideration that the NFL has its own laws. You sign a contract, you are bound by those rules, plain and simple. And he has broken the rules one time too many.

    Anyway, come on, look at the dude. What an idiot, allowing himself to be photographed looking like that. Get drunk if you want, but if you're representing the NFL, get drunk at home. Buy your own nightclub, whatever, haha.

    What do you think of the draft? I understand if you don't have time for a reply, I know how school is this time of year. Well, I vaguely remember.

    Take it easy and good luck with everything, bro.

  • Terry Robinson posted 1956 days ago

    Terry Robinson

    How's it going, brother? Haven't been in touch for awhile, but I wanted to offer congrats to you as a Duke fan. Also, what's your take on the Big Ben fiasco?

  • Terrell White posted 1989 days ago

    Terrell White

    thanx for the love bob.

  • Terrell White posted 2009 days ago

    Terrell White

    What's good bob:

    Between You and me Shawn Michaels is going to retire and this next loss will be his last match. But I digress.

    As and up and coming black man I wanted to know if you had ahy thoughts on my article. Here is a link.

    give it a read if you have time.

  • Erik Frenz posted 2028 days ago

    Erik Frenz

    Hey ,

    Got a couple of big pieces for you to check out. The first is an article about how last night's win impacts Drew Brees' legacy.

    Then, my recent article on some of the biggest pick-sixes in NFL history. Guess who's at the top of the list?

    Thanks for reading/feedback!

  • Terry Robinson posted 2031 days ago

    Terry Robinson

    Bro, I've been out of the country for a couple of weeks, sorry to have missed your stuff. We put together one last week of totally biased work:

    Preciate it much if you take a look. And let's keep in touch, you know? You're Duke, I'm UNC, you're Yankees, I'm Red Sox, I'm Pats, you're Steelers... unlikely friendship, wouldn't you say? It's all good, man.

  • Josh Logan posted 2036 days ago

    Josh Logan

    The League is Up!

  • Matt Shervington posted 2040 days ago

    Matt Shervington

    Hey if you have time, check out my suggestions for fixing the Pro Bowl and let me know what you think. It's time the game was meaningful again for us FANS!

  • Josh Logan posted 2052 days ago

    Josh Logan

    The League is Up