Sports Greatest Rivalries

Published on Saturday 28 January 2012 05:19

THE late sports writer Ian Archer had a theory – that football in Scotland was simply a continuation of the old clan wars. Where once Clan Donald had fought Clan Campbell, MacKenzie taken on MacLeod or whatever, since Victorian times it has been Kirkcaldy against Dunfermline, Airdrie against Hamilton, Newtongrange against Bonnyrigg, or, in the fiercest battle of all – Auchinleck against Cumnock.

The fight for land or cattle has become a squabble over bragging rights. When two villages, separated by a couple of fields and generations of mutual loathing send their 11 champions out to do battle – it matters – whether it’s two little village teams in a pub league, or, as this afternoon at Hampden, the two largest towns in one of Scotland’s major counties going head-to-head in a major national semi-final – to the locals, the outcome matters more than that of any other match.

Ayr v Kilmarnock used to be unique among Scotland’s sporting derbies. Alone amongst towns of similar size, located a short distance apart in the same county, Ayr and Kilmarnock did battle at the top level in football, cricket and rugby. Kilmarnock’s cricket and rugby teams have withered somewhat, whilst Ayr’s have prospered, in recent years – leaving Ayr United and Kilmarnock to uphold local honour and civic pride on the sports field, as they will this afternoon.

Ayrshire’s big two have always enjoyed a friendly rivalry, even on the terraces. Some years ago, whilst covering football in the county, I was known as “the only neutral in Ayrshire”, since my work rota took me to Somerset and Rugby Parks on alternate Saturdays. But I was not the only Ayrshireman making these trips; quite a few football fans in the county wore a black and white scarf one week, a blue and white one the next and nobody thought this strange.

Few are the players who have worn the colours of both halves of the Old Firm – go past Maurice Johnston, Gordon Marshall Jnr and Alfie Conn Jnr, and all but the true “anoraks” will struggle. Down in Ayrshire, Rugby Park icons such as Bertie Black, Jackie McInally, Willie Toner, Jim McSherry and Shug Burns have later gone on to be accepted warmly at Somerset Park. Whilst the likes of Alan McInally, Robert Connor, Robert Reilly, John Sludden and Jim Fleeting went “up the road” to a similar warm reception.

Indeed, this afternoon – Ayr’s Mark Roberts, the one-time “Golden Child” of Rugby Park will be a key man for United, but will not have to avoid Killie like the plague, should the First Division underdogs emerge triumphant from this League Cup semi-final.

Ayrshire has, like the rest of Scotland, suffered in the recent recession. Ayr High Street, once one of the most-prosperous shopping thoroughfares in the land, is today afflicted by boarded-up shops and ‘To Let’ signs, while Kilmarnock is, if anything in a worse economic state since even Johnnie Walker finally walked out of the town he had called home since 1820.

So, this afternoon is an opportunity for both towns to throw off the cloak of despondency, take a trip to Glasgow and show that, in a football sense, both are alive and kicking. It might not be cup final fever, but in both town centres, shops are decorated in the club colours and sporting signs exhorting their club to “Win it for the town lads”.

On paper, Killie will start as favourites, not least because they are now one of the SPL’s established sides. However, there is nothing Ayr United and their fans like more than to put the “Billy Big Times” from up the road in their place – and this is something they have made a habit of doing in recent years.

Surprisingly, given how well he has done on little cash these past few seasons, United boss Brian Reid’s name is never mentioned when an SPL managerial vacancy arises. He and his men will be keen to show what they can do – and they will not lack backing. Even though Kilmarnock have traditionally been the more successful side, the hard-core support for each side is remarkably similar in size and in fanaticisim.

The hero of the hour, whoever he is, will never be forgotten. Consider the case of Davie Paterson. Davie – perhaps better known as a cricketer with Ayr, was never a regular in the United team, but, back in 1965, in the midweek following Kilmarnock’s Scottish League-winning 2-0 victory over Hearts at Tynecastle, they welcomed United, then in the old Second Division, to Rugby Park for the Ayrshire Cup Final. United won 1-0, Paterson scored the goal and he is still getting drinks bought for him.

Goalkeeper Cammy Bell has revealed that, on match-days, since the semi-final draw was known, he and his team-mates have been subjected to: “Don’t dare lost to that lot” advice from Killie fans, as they have walked from the car park to the main door at Rugby Park. The same advice has been given to the United men by their fans.

Just another game – not here in Ayrshire it isn’t. Although it’s a pity it’s not the final.

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Article source: http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/sfl-division-one/a_healthy_rivalry_but_the_fight_for_a_place_in_final_will_be_fierce_1_2083621

Cincinnati Reds GM Walt Jocketty says his old team is the one to
catch in the NL Central. He cites the highly anticipated return of
Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright as the No. 1 reason.

“I still believe the Cardinals, being world champions and
Wainwright back from Tommy John surgery, are the team to beat in
our division,” Jocketty said. “But I like our chances.”

It would be a lot of fun to see the Cardinals and Reds going at
each other again. The roiling rivalry cooled down a bit in 2011, as
the Reds faded in the season’s second half. But the peace is
probably temporary.

The Reds loom as the Cardinals’ primary threat in the NL
Central, and Jocketty has received industry acclaim for his
offseason maneuverings.

Jocketty traded quality prospects to San Diego for starting
pitcher Mat Latos and gave young starter Travis Wood to the Chicago
Cubs for Sean Marshall, the superb lefthanded reliever.

Jocketty waited for the price to drop on former Philadelphia
closer Ryan Madson and made his move, signing Madson to a
reasonable one-year deal. Jocketty has reinforced the Reds’ bench
by adding outfielder Ryan Ludwick, infielder Wilson Valdez and
utility man Willie Harris.

After capturing the NL Central with a 91-71 record in 2010, the
Reds sagged to 79-83 last season. But Jocketty’s retooling has
raised the optimism.

“I’m very happy,” manager Dusty Baker told fans and reporters
during a Reds caravan promotional tour this week. “These are the
most moves, combined, in an offseason since I’ve been here.”

Internally, the Reds are moving MLB’s hardest thrower, Aroldis
Chapman, out of the bullpen to give him a shot at starting. The
Reds believe they’ve improved a starting rotation that ranked 13th
among 16 NL teams with a 4.47 ERA in a disappointing 2011.

Reds starting pitchers also allowed more homers than any NL
rotation. To bring that number down, starter Bronson Arroyo will
have to pitch to his 2010 level, when he had a 3.88 ERA. Arroyo was
pounded for 46 homers and a 5.07 ERA last season.

The Reds also need third baseman Scott Rolen to make a strong
comeback from a 2011 season ruined by a reoccurrence of shoulder
problems. Though the Reds still finished second in the NL in runs
last season, their team slugging percentage dropped 28 points.
Rolen slammed 20 homers in 2010 but hit only five last season.

The latest: Rolen told Jocketty that he “feels fantastic.”

The Brewers will be diminished after losing slugger Prince
Fielder, who signed a huge deal with Detroit. Moreover, 2011 league
MVP Ryan Braun is facing a 50-game suspension for violating MLB’s
performance-enhancing drug policy. (He’s appealing.)

The Cardinals’ losses give Jocketty hope that the Reds can close
the gap. Albert Pujols signed with the Los Angeles Angels, future
Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa retired, and pitching coach Dave
Duncan stepped down to tend to his wife’s health concerns.

“I think it’s going to make a big difference,” Jocketty said.
“(Pujols and Fielder) certainly had an impact on the division.
Also, Tony La Russa was a difference-maker as a manager. So I think
our division is wide open.”

The Reds need to take their best shot now. First baseman Joey
Votto almost certainly will become a free agent after the 2013
season. Second baseman Brandon Phillips can leave as a free agent
after this season. Marshall and Madson are on one-year deals.

The Cardinals have pushed back, signing outfielder Carlos
Beltran to help fill the void left by Pujols’ money grab. They also
retained shortstop Rafael Furcal through a new two-year
contract.

And it appears that the Cardinals, despite previous denials, are
serious contenders to sign free-agent starting pitcher Roy
Oswalt.

The Reds figure to push the Cardinals and their rookie manager,
Mike Matheny, who isn’t bashful. The teams will be able to check
each other out in the first month, with three games in Cincinnati
April 9-11, and three in St. Louis April 17-19.

Reading Time, 3 Minutes

The CVC wants to pick a fight with Rams owner Stan Kroenke, eh?
Sorry, but the CVC won’t win that one, not in the long run. And
that’s why the Rams will play a home game in London in 2012, 2013
and 2014.

Blues captain David Backes deserved to be an NHL All-Star this
season. … Best of luck to Rams media-relations director Ted
Crews, who is leaving to accept a similar position with the Kansas
City Chiefs.

Congrats to the newest individual members of the Missouri Sports
Hall of Fame, who will be inducted Sunday in Springfield: Jim
Edmonds, Mel Gray, Emmitt Thomas, Jon Sundvold, Lawrence Walls,
Dick Hantak, Jamie Quirk, Al Onofrio, Mickey Owen, Rex Sinquefield,
Ellen Port, Clyde Lear, Dr. Rick Lehman, Jim Pearson and Gene
Ruble.

Speaking on KMOX, Edmonds said he’d like to serve as a guest
instructor at Cardinals spring training. “My biggest fear is going
down there and not really being able to explain to people what I
know, or have them not want to listen,” Edmonds said. “I know
sometimes at some point in your career you kind of think you know
it all, and that’s the way the game’s turned. So I’m hoping if I
can go down there, I make an impact.”

Cardinals third baseman David Freese will be the subject of an
upcoming profile in Sports Illustrated, written by Tom Verducci.
… St. Louisan Fred Wappel, the head athletic trainer at Missouri
from 1955 through 1996, is being honored at MU by the University
School of Health Related Sciences, which will name a new division
on athletic training in his honor. … St. Louis sports broadcaster
Dan McLaughlin has lost 70 pounds as part of a determined and
impressive lifestyle change.

Speaking on WXOS (101.1 FM), former New York Jets quarterback
Chad Pennington said the Rams made a smart choice in hiring Brian
Schottenheimer as offensive coordinator. “I think it will be a good
fit for (quarterback) Sam Bradford. He’ll be challenged as a
quarterback.” Strengths? “Brian is really detailed,” Pennington
said. “He helped me increase my preparation. I could just go out
there, and no matter what question was thrown at me by my teammates
I had the answer for them. He’s really big on preparation and
knowledge of your own system and being able to make all of the
calls.”

St. Louisan Bradley Beal, the national high school player of the
year last season as a senior at Chaminade, is back in form after a
brief slump at Florida. The freshman made only 29 percent of his
shots over a four-game stretch after Christmas but is shooting 50
percent over the last four contests. The 6-3 Beal is averaging 14
points and 6 rebounds for the 14th-ranked Gators.

Our town’s Blake Ahearn (De Smet, Missouri State) leads the NBA
developmental league in scoring this season with an average of 24.6
points a game. There’s more: Ahearn has broken his D-League record
for making consecutive free throws. He’s up to 99 and counting and
goes for No. 100 (and beyond) tonight when his Reno Big Horns play
at Springfield (Mass.)

The Nice Section

Just a reminder: Please help us raise money for the families of
fallen police officers by playing in the 6th Annual Barwick/Newton
Texas Hold ‘Em tournament to benefit the National Law Enforcement
Memorial Fund. It’s Saturday, Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza
Hotel in Bridgeton. The fee is $50 per player.

The fund covers travel expenses for family members to visit
Washington to participate in annual memorial ceremonies to honor
officers killed in the line of duty. It’s part of Police Week
activities in the nation’s capital. Being able to attend the
ceremony provides considerable comfort for grieving families.

To register, contribute money or donate auction items, call
Bridgeton police detective Chris Welby at 314-954-1555.

Article source: http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/bernie-miklasz/71bc0e8c-3932-55f8-99f0-35582294fef2.html

By Neal Wallace

Liverpool’s managing director, Ian Ayre, has called for “rivalry not hatred” with Manchester United.

The pair meet in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday (28th January) for the first time since Luis Suarez was banned for eight matches for racially abusing Patrice Evra.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Ayre said: “We mustn’t detract from fans chanting and singing at each other but it needs to be a rivalry thing rather than a hatred thing.”

Fears have been raised that the bitter relationship between the two clubs could escalate this weekend, amid tensions over the Suarez affair, resulting in an ugly atmosphere at the match.

Liverpool and Manchester United have been drawn together in the FA Cup on ten previous occasions, with the latter coming out on top seven times, including the 1977 and 1996 finals.

United are currently five places above Liverpool in the Premier League, sitting in second place.

Article source: http://www.stratford-herald.com/news/5328-Liverpoolchiefcallsforrivalrynothatred.html

FEDERER versus Nadal has been superseded. Another, less sexy rivalry has quietly supplanted it between a Spaniard and a Serb, a lefty and righty, a baseliner and a baseliner.

Tomorrow, a weary Novak Djokovic will play Rafael Nadal in a third consecutive grand slam final. Same combatants, different venue. Nadal has never played Federer in three straight finals. Djokovic and Nadal have won the past seven slams. A new order that has almost gone unnoticed.

In the new order, the baseline rules. Forehands and the second serve are huge, and mental hardness matters more than variety, as Djokovic’s laborious five set, almost five-hour escape from a tougher Andy Murray attested. And as in most team sports, it is the better defence that tends to prevail.

Djokovic can breathe easier today. At moments last night, he was on the brink of collapse. In third set, the momentum, the crowd and his own enervated, hang-dog body language suggested that the world No1 was about to expire. Later, in the fifth set, he squandered a 5-2 lead and then had break points against him at 5-5.

Thankfully, he did not call for a bogus medical time out during his early struggles, or the match might not have finished yet. This was not an epic. It was an ordeal.

Murray may feel more acutely disappointed than he did in the three grand slams in which he failed. Did he blow it, or did the Djoker deceive us into thinking him deceased? At two sets to one behind, the Serb was in serious strife. His body language and wan appearance suggested he was afflicted with more breathing issues.

At that stage, Murray was up on his toes. He had discovered a mettle that we haven’t always seen in matches against the top trio. He was running faster, leaping higher and chasing balls. Even the stony-faced Lendl left his seat.

Murray had won a very long, dramatic and unpredictable third set that lasted longer and had more plot twists than an Agatha Christie movie. By the end of those 88minutes, in which both players blew set points, one fancied that the Scot would get up.

What was striking and significant then was Murray’s energy, compared to Djokovic, who was clearly fatigued. Earlier, in the second set, the Serb pointed to his nose, seemingly signalling to his entourage that he had again had difficulty breathing through his nose.

The extent of Djokovic’s breathing problem was hard to ascertain, since it had not been an issue in the first set. Now, a fresher Rafa will find out.

Article source: http://m.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/djokovic-storms-into-third-straight-final-20120128-1qm7c.html

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Michael Phelps. Missy Franklin. Jordyn Wieber. Ryan Lochte.

Any of those athletes could be the defining face of the U.S. Olympic team in the run-up to the London Games. So far, though, none stands alone as “The One To Watch” — at least not according to people who make a living out of watching the Olympics. 

With 2012 under way and only six months left before the flame is ignited at opening ceremonies, The Associated Press sent emails to sports agents and executives, public-relations people and others with strong Olympic ties, asking them who America’s so-called face of the Olympics would be as the games approach.

Unlike past Olympic cycles, when Phelps or Marion Jones or Bode Miller or Lindsey Vonn were the clear-cut Americans to watch, there was no consensus this time around.

Phelps got the most votes with four, followed by Franklin with three, then Wieber (gymnastics) and Lochte (swimming) with two apiece. The rest of the 16 responses were spread among five athletes: gymnast Nastia Liukin, sprinter Allyson Felix, swimmer Dara Torres and soccer players Abby Wambach and Hope Solo.

That the question produced such a scattered list makes clear that generating buzz for the Olympics will take more this year than simply plastering a single person’s face on a 50-foot billboard in Times Square.

“I think we have 10 or 20 athletes who could be that face,” said Scott Blackmun, CEO of the U.S. Olympic Committee. “As I sit here today, I don’t know who that face is going to be.”

The people who received the AP questionnaire were assured their names would be kept confidential, in an attempt to get the most candid answers possible.

They were asked for American athletes only, which precluded them from naming Usain Bolt, the Jamaican sprinter who owns world records in the 100 and 200 and could have come close to sweeping the survey if nationality were no factor.

“Clearly, the world will be watching Usain Bolt, for obvious reasons and deserved reasons,” said Olympic historian David Wallechinsky, author of “The Complete Book of the Olympics.” “Clearly, people will be keeping their eye on Michael Phelps, as a record setter, even if he’s not as dominant as he was before.”

Phelps already owns more Olympic gold than anyone and needs three more medals of any color to become the most decorated athlete in history. His quest will, of course, be compelling, but it will also be mixed in with his competition against Lochte, who won five gold medals at the 2011 world championships and beat Phelps in their two head-to-head matchups.

If viewing patterns stay similar to what they were in 2008, Phelps vs. anybody in the pool will draw the best ratings. All of NBC’s prime time telecasts that drew more than 30 million viewers in 2008 came on nights when swimming was featured. (Track and field didn’t fare as well, though most of that coverage was shown on tape delay while most swimming coverage was live.)

“It’s an intriguing story,” Wallechinsky said of the Phelps-Lochte drama that could develop. “But trying to sell a U.S. versus U.S. rivalry, where the characters don’t really hate each other, sometimes that’s a little rough. It pains me when, sometimes, you see media pitching a rivalry between two athletes who are actually friends, just for the sake of creating a rivalry.”

That’s very much the way the 2008 gymnastics competition was fed to the public — Nastia Liukin vs. Shawn Johnson. They battled back and forth in the years leading up to Beijing, and their head-to-head in the Olympic all-around was high theater, barely won by Liukin.

Both are trying to make the 2012 team, but unlike 2008, this year’s star isn’t permanently affixed to anyone just yet.

Wieber, the 16-year-old world champion is the front-runner to become America’s top all-around gymnast, and she already has an appearance on “Ellen” and a deal with Kellogg’s as signs of what some people think of her potential. But the health of Rebecca Bross, who was touted as the “next big thing” before injuries derailed her, could still factor into the big picture.

Of course, the U.S. team can’t depend on any single athlete to make the Olympics an overall success, though Phelps’ eight golds in 2008 certainly helped matters.

Americans have won the most medals at the past four Summer Olympics, but with China and Russia improving and with smaller countries, such as Brazil, Great Britain and Australia, chipping away from the other side, there’s a sense that the United States is under more pressure this time.

“The medal count is going to be the medal count,” said Alan Ashley, going into his first Olympics as the USOC chief of sport performance. “To us, it’s all about how we support the athletes and coaches and help them put their best foot forward when they get to London. If we do our job, then the medal count will take care of itself.”

Key to that medal count will be the fate of the track and field team, which won a disappointing 23 medals in Beijing, but improved to 25 at last year’s world championships — an upward trend team leaders hope will continue.

Yet finding a singular star from that sport has become difficult, in large part because of the numerous drug scandals that have tainted track over the decades and more or less tagged its top sprinters with a “buyer beware” sign, regardless of their history.

Tyson Gay, possibly America’s best sprinter, has no doping issues in his past, but has been hampered with injuries and missed both the finals at the Beijing Games and all of last year’s world championships; he didn’t garner a single vote in the AP survey. Neither did decathlete Bryan Clay, the defending Olympic champion — a sign of how the clout of the so-called “World’s Greatest Athlete” has diminished since the days of Bruce Jenner.

On the women’s side, Felix is well-spoken and looks good in magazine shoots, but has been a big factor in her sport for almost a decade now and hasn’t connected viscerally with the casual sports fan that makes up a big chunk of the Olympic audience.

“I don’t have an explanation for that,” Wallechinsky said. “It is a bit odd. There might be some Marion Jones backlash, where they don’t want to get burned again, don’t want to back a sprinter then have that person test positive at the Olympics. It’s one of those things where you can be completely innocent and still be under the shadow of other people’s transgressions.”

With billions of dollars invested in televising the Olympics, NBC will shape the way most American take in the games. The network, with everything from local affiliates to the web at its disposal, can tell numerous stories on numerous platforms.

Chief Marketing Officer John Miller — the guy who created the catchphrase “Must See TV” — said the network learned a lot when it loaded its pre-Games hype into Bode Miller before the 2006 Olympics, only to watch him turn into a bust on the mountain and a source of controversy off of it.

“We put a significant amount of eggs in that basket,” Miller said. “As a result of that, instead of going with one athlete, we decided we had to spread it around a little more. Fortunately, in the Summer Games, we have compelling stories to go after. A lot of them.”

In addition to track, gymnastics and swimming, NBC also focuses a lot on beach volleyball, where Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor will go for their third Olympic gold.

“We have enough bandwidth to go after four or five sports in a big way and cover a lot of angles,” Miller said.

NBC, he said, has no need to go with one athlete in the lead up. The network invited about 100 athletes out to its pre-Olympic TV shoot in West Hollywood, “because you never know who’s going to come out and turn into something big.”

In this case, there’s no real consensus on who’s big before the games, either. The USOC is accepting that fact — trying to embrace the idea of promoting an Olympics with no clear-cut star instead of forcing a single story line.

“It’s different from other years because there’s not one story there that’s bubbled to the top yet,” Ashley said. “That’s one of the things I love about the Olympics, is that you never really know the answer to that question.”

Article source: http://www.registerstar.com/articles/2012/01/28/sports//doc4f2231766973d926609754.txt

SALT LAKE CITY — Best after best after best was the night’s theme as Utah rolled by BYU 197.55-194.45 in the Huntsman Center before 15,310 fans. The rivalry brings out the best in the Utes who hadn’t scored a 197.0 in the regular season since their 2009 outing against the Cougars.

“This team continues to amaze me and I think we continue to amaze everyone,” said senior Stephanie McAllister. “We are such a young group with the freshman and sophomores, but there is so much, so much talent and so much depth.”

Utah has 11 underclassmen to complement three seniors and one junior on this year’s roster. The freshmen stepped up again Friday, led by Kailah Delaney’s career-best 9.950 on the vault. Becky Tutka also pounded out a career-best with a 9.9 to lead things off on the floor.

Overall, Utah had season-best scores on three events. The first came on the bars after four Utes rolled out 9.9s to erase a fall by Nansy Damianova.

Cortni Beers was one of those 9.9s, which tied her career-best. The senior then matched the score on beam to set a new career high and lead the team to a season-high 49.35.

“She (Beers) only does a couple of events and the focus goes to all-arounders. She’s quietly improved herself each year and this year she is at her very best,” said Utah co-head coach Greg Marsden. “She seems to have a lot of confidence and is really working hard in the gym to get better.”

“It’s my last year, and I just want to go out there and have fun,” said Beers. “I think that takes pressure off — it’s just gymnastics and I’m out here having fun doing something I’ve always wanted to do.”

Beers’ 9.9 on beam gave her the win, while she tied with three teammates for the victory on bars. Utah then posted a 49.45 on floor, led by Corrie Lothrop’s 9.925. Lothrop, who tied all four of her individual event career highs, was the all-around winner with a career-best 39.575.

“Talk about somebody that’s on a mission — really has rediscovered her passion for this sport,” said Marsden about Lothrop. “Really working hard in every aspect in everything — conditioning, nutrition and technique.”

The Utes weren’t the only team enjoying bests as BYU posted season highs on vault (48.925) and bars (48.8). The Cougars did suffer a blow though when high-scorer and Utah native Megan Bain tore her Achilles while warming up for a floor exercise. Bain had posted a 9.8 on vault earlier in the meet.

“Losing Megan is going to hurt,” said BYU coach Brad Cattermole. “She’s one of our stars and one of our team leaders.

“The meet itself, I thought we needed to be a little sharper than we were.

“On vault we were bouncing around on some landings. Overall, I’m not unhappy, we are just going to need to figure out who goes in the lineup now and how to improve on some things.”

Article source: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700219835/BYU-Utah-Utes-gymnastics-Utes-pull-off-a-series-of-career-bests-to-roll-Cougars.html?s_cid=rss-9

Sponsored by Big Ten Network

By Tom Dienhart, BTN.com

As I wax nostalgic for Mike Bruesewitz’s floppy mop, it’s time to take a look around the Big Ten. Who’s hot? Who’s not? And what the heck should you be looking for and talking about around the Xerox machine? It’s all right here, people. Lace up your Chucks! And come tell me what you think!

Also, fill your heads with more Big Ten hoops knowledge from my BTN.com colleagues the Big Ten Geeks, who break down the Badgers’ resurgence, and get caught up on all of the amazing plays from the past season in our “Did You See This?’ video archive (for example: Aaron Craft’s ”I meant do that” shot in this post). And we have our usual stat leaders, scoreboard and, of course, the ever-changing standings.

Three Stocks to buy
1. Wisconsin. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the hottest team in the conference, reeling off five victories in a row with the last two coming over ranked teams Illinois and Indiana. How did this team lose ever lose three in a row, including a home loss to Iowa? Vexing.

2. Michigan State. A two-game losing streak; a 15-game winning streak; a two-game losing streak; a two-game winning streak. Forget about it. The Spartans look to be dialed in during the last days of January with the toughest and most physical team in the league—again.

3. Ohio State. I don’t know about you, but the Buckeyes have looked dialed in since that loss at Illinois. It’s three wins in a row … and counting for the best team in the Big Ten. C’mon, don’t act so shocked by that last statement. You know it’s true.

Three Stocks to Sell
1. Purdue. Look at the resume. Not impressive. The Boilermakers have no victories over ranked teams, and honestly haven’t beaten any team that they shouldn’t have beaten. And they have some bad losses, too. Is this really an NCAA team? (I’m rubbing my chin right now.)

2. Northwestern. It’s fun to root for the loveable Wildcats in their quest for the school’s first NCAA tourney berth. But Northwestern looked bad the last two times out, losing at Wisconsin and at Minnesota by an aggregate 43 points. NU’s next two are at home, winnable and critical: Purdue and Nebraska. What’s it gonna be, Willie?

3. Illinois. This team just scares me to death. Beat Ohio State one day … lose to Penn State the next. I just can’t trust the Illini from game to game. I love the defense, but the offense is spotty. And, ask yourself this: Who is the leader?

Three Truths
1. Indiana. That’s four losses in five games, Jared of Subway. You may wanna cancel those Final Four reservations you made back in late-December. Yes, the Hoosiers are appreciably better, but they are not an elite Big Ten team. I don’t care what any TV talking head says. Elite teams don’t lose at home to Minnesota and at Nebraska. Stop it. Now. Please.

2. A 9-9 Big Ten record will get a team into the NCAA tourney. I really believe that, as the conference is that strong. In fact, perhaps a team with a sub-.500 league mark will earn an at-large bid. Since 1990, five Big Ten teams have received NCAA at-large tourney bids with losing league records: Iowa 2005 (7-9); Penn State 2001 (7-9); Purdue 1999 (7-9); Wisconsin 1994 (8-10); Indiana 1990 (8-10). Did you hear that, Purdue, Minnesota and Northwestern?

3. February will be Ohio State’s make-or-break month. It includes two games vs. Wisconsin, visits from Michigan State and Illinois and a trip to Michigan. Still, it all could come down to the Buckeyes’ final regular-season game: at Michigan State on March 4 in what could be a de facto championship game.

Three Random thoughts
1. Do you see the separation starting to take place? Look close. Closer. There. The Big Ten is morphing into a four-team race between Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan and Wisconsin. This may be the week the Wolverines fall from the pack with games at Ohio State and vs. Indiana.

2. Coach of the year so far? Give me Orlando “Tubby” Smith. Many left the Gophers for dead after superstar Trevor Mbakwe was lost to injury. No problem, as Minnesota has remained relevant and in the NCAA conversation thanks to the blossoming of Rodney Williams. Is there a more athletic player in the Big Ten? Well, maybe Branden Dawson, but Williams is pretty darn good.

3. Let’s go ahead and start the debate right here, right now: Who’s the better freshman: Indiana’s Cody Zeller or Michigan’s Trey Burke? See, it’s a more difficult argument than many of you thought. Tell me below in the comments. I always hear it from both sides in my weekly mailbag.

Three Impressive Wins
1. Michigan 66, Purdue 64. This was the Wolverines’ first true road victory of the season. And Michigan did it without relying on the 3-point shot, getting good looks inside the arc and converting. Maybe this team can win the Big Ten.

2. Wisconsin 67, Illinois 63. This is the kind of tough, gutty road victory that championship-caliber teams earn. Credit reigning Big Ten Player of the Week Jordan Taylor, who torched the Illini for 19 points, nine rebounds and five assists.

3. Michigan State 83, Purdue 58. A total and absolute destruction of a solid Boilermaker team that was forced to overcome not just the physical, tough and talented Spartans—but also an awful travel situation.

Three Lines of the Week
1. Wisconsin’s Jared Berggren 7-14 from the field; 1-2 from the line; 3-6 from 3-pt range; 5 rebounds; 1 assist; 1 block; 1 steal; 18 points in 67-63 win at Illinois.

2. Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger: 7-11 from the field; 6-7 from the line; 0-1 from 3-pt range; 13 rebounds; 2 assists; 2 blocks; 20 points in 78-54 win over Penn State.

3. Nebraska’s Brandon Richardson: 9-10 from the field; 1-2 from the line; 6-7 from 3-pt range; 6 rebounds; 5 assists; 2 steals 25 points in 79-73 win at Iowa.

Three Games to Look Forward To
1. Sunday, Jan. 29: Michigan at Ohio State. You love the rivalry on the gridiron; you’ll love the hardwood version in 2012. But I’m not sure the Wolverines are ready for all the Buckeyes have—especially in Value City Arena.

2. Tuesday, Jan. 31: Michigan State at Illinois. We saw the Fighting Illini take down Ohio State earlier this year. Could the Spartans be next? No doubt, the sagging Illini could use a big pick-me-up win to bolster confidence and quell critics to get them back on track after back-to-back losses last week.

3. Wednesday, Feb. 1: Indiana at Michigan. Programs seemingly going in opposite directions. The Hoosiers enter the weekend having lost four of their last five. The Wolverines enjoyed a breakthrough by notching their first true road win last earlier this week at Purdue.

Three Top Freshmen
1. Trey Burke, G, Michigan. Basketball IQ of a senior. Burke can push it or pull up. Is there a better freshman point guard in America?

2. Cody Zeller, C, Indiana. Best big man in the state—that includes the Pacers. Sorry, Roy Hibbert. And he’s more popular than any Pacer. Maybe that isn’t saying much. Still, Zeller is good. Really good.

3. Dave Sobolewski, G, Northwestern. No. 1 in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ratio. You just know the guy sleeps with a basketball.

BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart’s Big Ten Three-Pointers appear every Friday during the basketball season. Find all of his work at www.btn.com/tomdienhart, follow him on Twitter at@BTNTomDienhart, send a question to his weekly mailbag here, and  subscribe to his RSS feed.

PHOTOS: AJ Mast/Icon SMI

Article source: http://thebiglead.com/index.php/2012/01/28/dienhart-which-big-ten-stocks-are-rising/

Lord Ouseley, the chairman of Kick It Out, yesterday called on the captains
and the referee at Anfield to take action if the fans cross the line between
rivalry and bigotry.

“It’s very important that people like Steven Gerrard and Patrice Evra
take responsibility at Anfield and that football wins,” said Ouseley. “If
there’s abuse, the referee should stop the game and point out to the
stewards and the ground administrator that they have to deal with
something.”

Even though Loftus Road is not sold out, both grounds will resemble cauldrons
come kick-off. Saturday is a day for strong men. Hughes relished the abuse
he received when stepping out in front of the Kop as a United player. “It
was great,” he recalled, eyes twinkling at the memory. “It was one of
the biggest games of the year and I absolutely loved it.

“The more abuse I had the better I played. Some players embrace that and
I used to love the stick, opposition fans having a go at me. I just felt it
was great to get out there and irritate them even more by playing well. The
best thing you can do when people are giving you stick is to win.

“You have to be able to perform when circumstances are not ideal. We can
all kick a ball and run around but it’s having the mental fortitude to deal
with situations that surround the game and things that happen during the 90
minutes. That stands you out as a good player or a player who can’t at that
level.”

Hughes has asked Ferdinand if he feels he has that mental fortitude for
today’s challenge. “I’ve had the conversation,” acknowledged Hughes. “He’s
very positive about the game and he’s looking forward to it. He wants to
play and his team-mates want him to play. He’ll get support from them, from
me and our fans will back him wholeheartedly.”

There are fears that some Chelsea fans may feel they can get away with the
‘you know what you are’ chant towards Ferdinand as it is not explicitly
racist. “Possibly,” replied Hughes. “People are creative and try
and push the envelope sometimes but we understand what is meant by that.”

When Hughes first started playing in the early Eighties, the aggression on the
terraces was predominantly physical. In the modern era of CCTV, banning
orders, better stewarding and campaigns by enlightened supporters’ groups
against hooliganism, violent urges are mainly expressed verbally.

“There has been a sea change,” acknowledged Hughes. ”Sometimes it’s
more prevalent and more vindictive but it has always been there. It’s more
of an issue these days because there are so many media platforms where it’s
discussed.”

News and views travel fast on the superhighway of the digital age,
particularly via Twitter. In an age of economic uncertainty, the underground
sewer of racism can overflow on the terraces and on Twitter. “These are
harsh times and extremists are trying to get a toehold back in the game
having been marginalised,” added Ouseley.

“It has taken us a long time to see the authorities to say we are not
going to put up with this, we will investigate complaints or reports and
seek to have people prosecuted. That’s happening now.” Police have taken
action against people making racist and homophobic posts on Twitter.

Angered by Liverpool’s support for Suárez, Ouseley was impressed by Anfield’s
reaction when a fan allegedly made a derogatory comment towards the Oldham
Athletic player, Tom Adeyemi. “The way football responded when Tom was
abused at Liverpool is the way we need to go with the stewards in tackling
it, the police in nicking someone, and the response from the majority of the
fans, who applauded Tom at the end of the game, and the response from all
the players,” said Ouseley.

“It was an iconic picture of Steven Gerrard wrapping his arms around Tom.
That was fabulous. That’s how it’s got to be: a top player like Steven
Gerrard showing there’s more dignity in football than people think. That
makes all the difference. That said, this is a sport where people are
treated with dignity. Afterwards, Liverpool were right up front in issuing a
fulsome apology. OK, they probably learnt the hard way from the Suárez
experience but if you make mistakes, don’t repeat them. Say you are not
going to accept that c—.”

It is time for respect to return to the game. Players and supporters would do
well to heed Kenny Dalglish’s programme notes for the visit of Sir Alex
Ferguson’s men – from Boxing Day, 1986. “I can tell you that all
the Liverpool players have a healthy respect for their Manchester United
counterparts, but while we maintain a very real rivalry, there is no
ill-will about it. Both teams have earned a reputation through the years for
playing good football, and the quality of the players at both clubs is
beyond dispute. So we should all be able to look forward to an entertaining
game and – most important – we should all be able to anticipate the occasion
with the feeling we are going to enjoy it.” It’s a game. Enjoy it.
Respect it.

Article source: http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/568360/s/1c32e560/l/0L0Stelegraph0O0Csport0Cfootball0Cteams0Cqueens0Epark0Erangers0C90A458490CFor0Efootballs0Esake0Edignity0Eand0Erespect0Emust0Ewin0Ethe0Eday0Bhtml/story01.htm

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INDEPENDENCE, MO — You could say Missouri and Kansas’ rivalry is on thin ice. Whether it’s on the field or on the court, the future is uncertain. Missouri’s upcoming move to the Southeastern Conference are leaving many to wonder when the next time the Tigers and Jayhawks will meet again.

But, look no further. The biggest border showdown you’ve never heard of…hockey. Next winter, both schools will become members of the Mid America Collegiate Hockey Association.

“Everybody’s always known that it’s been a huge rivalry on the football field, basketball, and every other sport but we don’t get a whole lot of recognition on the ice because not a whole lot of people know about us.” said Evan Thill, senior captain.

“We’ve only seen, you know, most of the TV stuff on the football and basketball, and it’s nice to be able to carry that rivalry over to a sport that we’ve been playing our whole lives.” said junior forward Alex Roth

This year’s version of the showdown, Missouri cruised to a dominating 14-3 victory, with the help of senior captain Evan Thill.

“We put a lot of hard work in, and this is my senior year, and before this we were one and one against them at this big game in Independence, so this was a huge game for me going out in my senior year.” said Thill

As for whether or not the rivalry will maintain its intensity after the move to the SEC. Thill said, “We’re still gonna hate KU no matter what on the ice. We look forward to this game every year.It’s a huge game for us.”

It’s a rivalry that will certainly take more than a referee to break up.

“I think it’s important that we do so obviously there’s a great fan base to attend those, and I think it might only get bigger if we’re the only sport where we’re playing each other.” said head coach John Lammond

Mizzou hockey skated to a 9-2-1 record in the first semester of league play. The Tigers head to Springfield this weekend for two games against Missouri State.

Article source: http://www.komu.com/news/border-war-will-continue-with-unlikely-sport/

When Mount Si High School students mount up for their first race of the Washington High School Cycling League season in March, it will be as part of an already winning team.

That team, comprised of 15 Skyline High School freshmen, had an excellent showing in last year’s inaugural season of the mountain biking league, finishing fifth overall in the state.

This year, the team will include a handful of Mount Si riders, thanks largely to the efforts of Upper Valley parents Luke Talbott and Karen Auletta.

Talbott, the creator of Compass Outdoor Adventures,  (www.compassoutdoor.org) and Auletta, a self-described “motivated parent advocate, who wants to see this get set up so my sons can be on a mountain bike,” have long wanted to add mountain-biking to Mount Si’s sports or club offerings. It just made sense to Auletta.

“We’ve got these amazing trails, and we’ve got lots of kids who mountain bike,” she said.

Until last year, liability concerns kept the sport off the school-sanctioned activity list, but “Washington State has since joined the national mountain biking association for high school teams,” Auletta said. “That kind of opened the door for us.”

Talbott hosted a student meeting in December to gauge interest, then set up a registration table one day during Mount Si’s lunch periods, to sign up students and provide information.

They also connected with Phil Therrien, coach of the Skyline team, about adding other schools. He immediately agreed, saying it’s a great opportunity for students who might not choose more traditional sports.

Also, the team needs girls.

Mountain bike races are scored individually, and by  team, Therrien explained, and the team score is a combination of the scores of the top finishers for boys and girls.

Last year, the team was all boys and for the state rankings, “We had to have a best composite score for male and female so we took a zero on the female side,” Therrien said.

Registration is still open for interested riders, and organizers are actively recruiting all riders, but especially girls. Therrien encourages anyone who is interested to try it.

“We would characterize it as a ‘no-cut’ sport,” he said. “We’re going to tailor our practices so all the kids are getting what they need.”

Practices will begin in early February, and will include parent-led rides twice a week during the weekdays, with longer rides on the weekends. The Saturday before each race, so the team will ride the course together, then discuss how to handle its obstacles.

Therrien is not worried about school rivalries on the team because mountain biking is not a mainstream sport, he says.

“While the kids are competitive and want to do well, it’s also a very internally supportive community,” he said. “We’re there to support each other no matter what place they finish.”

Mountain biking is a lifelong sport, organizers say, with lasting benefits.

For league information, go to www.washingtonmtb.org.

Contact Snoqualmie Valley Record Staff Reporter Carol Ladwig at cladwig@valleyrecord.com.

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Article source: http://www.valleyrecord.com/sports/138230004.html