Toronto Button snaps Rangers’ Home Winning Streak at 7
After 10 games at Madison Square Garden, just one team has beaten the Rangers in regulation, the Toronto Walnut Leafs. And today they've tried it two times, having a 4-2 victory Monday evening that clicked the Rangers’ seven-game home winning streak as well as their five-game overall streak.
“We’ve performed some pretty fast teams,” Coach John Tortorella stated. But “we’ve battled against Toronto.”
The Rangers joined the overall game using the N.H.L.’s best winning percentage and 12 victories within their previous 14 games. However the Leafs, who won through the same score in the Garden home opener March. 27, demonstrated too quick again - especially their top line, featuring Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul, the N.H.L.’s No. one and three scorers entering the overall game.
“They were ruling every change,” Walnut Leafs Coach Ron Wilson stated. “Every time the Rangers got momentum, I needed them available, manipulating the puck.”
The Leafs skated circles round the Rangers within the first 1 / 2 of the overall game. Lupul’s thirteenth goal of year beat Henrik Lundqvist at 6 minutes 9 seconds from the second period for any 3- lead.
However the Rangers are extremely good a team to collapse. Artem Anisimov obtained at 13:00 from the second period, and Marian Gaborik added his thirteenth of year on the two-guy advantage 1:32 later. That set happens for any frantic final period.
With 8:17 left, Ryan Callahan almost tied it when he was setup at point-blank range off an attractive pass from Michael Del Zotto. But Callahan shot within the internet.
The Rangers continued a energy participate in the game’s last second and drawn Lundqvist to have an extra attacker, six skaters on four. But Leafs goalkeeper Jonas Gustavsson stopped harmful shots from Kaira Richards and Anisimov, and Toronto’s David Steckel place the puck into a clear internet with five seconds left.
The defeat deprived the Rangers from the 2,500th win in club history. They'll repeat the process Thursday evening in the Garden against Polk Bay.
Entering the overall game, the Rangers were 7-- when Brandon Prust have been evaluated a fighting major within the opening two minutes, and also at 2:05, Prust dropped the mitts and began tossing haymakers with Jay Rosehill. But because Prust began fighting five seconds past too far, that peculiar record remains unchanged.
The Rangers lead the N.H.L. with 22 fights, and Prust - who had been Derek Boogaard’s good friend and road roommate throughout Boogaard’s brief time using the Rangers last season - leads they with 8.
Prust’s fight will most likely show on HBO’s “24/7” series, whose camera deck hands moved in on Monday morning to document the daily existence from the Rangers with the Jan. 2 Winter Classic in Philadelphia. The very first episode will be provided 12 ,. 14 at 10 p.m.
SLAP SHOTS
Defenseman Michael Sauer visited the dressing room after he was shaken up inside a collision with Toronto defenseman Dion Phaneuf across the sideboards within the Toronto finish while both were taking a 50-50 puck with more than 5 minutes left within the third period. Under one minute later, Michael Del Zotto hurt his left leg when he got twisted track of Toronto forward David Steckel. ... The Rangers used whitened to support the Leafs, who have been going with their blue uniforms. It had been the very first time the Rangers had worn whitened in your own home since last March 7.
Rematch: LSU Versus. Alabama in BCS Title Game
If you want sequels, the BCS includes a championship game for you personally: Alabama-LSU II.
The Crimson Tide edged Oklahoma Condition within the final round of voting Sunday and can take part in the top-rated Tigers within the BCS national title game on Jan. 9 in New Orleans.
Undefeated LSU may be the only team to conquer Alabama this year, and also the mind BCS official sees a rematch like a perfectly good title game.
"Absolutely, if they are 1 and a pair of, and they're in most the polls launched today," executive director Bill Hancock stated.
Still, it isn't exactly a game title the general public was clamoring for - a minimum of outdoors of Southeastern Conference territory. Also it is going to do absolutely nothing to quiet experts from the Bowl Championship Series or requires a university football playoff.
Enjoy it or otherwise, the machine has made certain the SEC - the place to find both schools - will run its streak of BCS titles to 6 consecutively.
Alabama has among individuals and will also be making its second BCS title game appearance within the last three seasons. The Crimson Tide claims 13 national titles overall and is among the most decorated programs within the land. It's won seven AP game titles because the wire service began its poll in 1936
LSU is going to be seeking its third BCS championship since 2003 in the Superdome - the website of their first couple of.
Tide coach Nick Saban won that title for LSU in '03. Current Tigers coach L'ensemble des Miles matched up his predecessor in 2007, winning a championship having a team that lost two games.
These gifted Tigers, brought by dynamic defensive back Tyrann Mathieu, have rarely even trailed against an agenda that incorporated Or and West Virginia.
"This team loves the large stage," Miles stated.
Alabama, using its top-ranked defense and Heisman Trophy contender Trent Richardson, was the only real team to remain within 13 points from the Tigers this year.
The Cowboys designed a late surge by beating Oklahoma 44-10 on Saturday evening, and closed the space on Alabama within the polls. But it wasn't enough to prevent the very first title game rematch within the 14-year good reputation for the BCS.
The Tigers (13-) beat the Tide 9-6 in overtime on November. 5 in Tuscaloosa.
"This may be an entirely different kind of game," Saban stated. "There's a lot of good gamers on sides from the ball for teams.
"There's a lot chance with this game to experience out different and also have a different flavor compared to first game."
Alabama (11-1) finished second both in the Harris and coaches' polls with a wide enough margin to beat Oklahoma State's lead within the computer rankings.
The Cowboys (11-1), champions from the Large 12, will participate in the Fiesta Bowl against Stanford in the Pac-12.
"We can not manage it,Inch Oklahoma Condition quarterback Brandon Weeden stated. "However I know we'd very much of the year and that we beat great football teams within this conference and we are conference champions, therefore we did exactly what we're able to.Inch
Another BCS matchups are:
-Michigan versus. Virginia Tech within the Sugar Bowl
-Clemson versus. West Virginia within the Orange Bowl
-Or versus. Wisconsin within the Rose Bowl.
The very first time because the 2005 season, no large-money games will have a BCS buster for example Boise Condition, TCU or Houston, which in fact had an opportunity but lost Saturday within the Conference USA championship to Southern Mississippi. The Cougars will have Penn Condition, which dropped towards the Ticket City Bowl in Dallas following a Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal which has overshadowed the Nittany Lions' season.
Because the energy-brokers attending college football start to plot how top-tier bowls is going to be setup later on, defects in the present system were once more being uncovered this year.
Oklahoma Condition and Alabama, two teams with perfectly good arguments to experience for any national title, ended up fighting more than one place, with subjective voters and mysterious computer rankings - the formulas of which aren't even openly known - doing the selecting.
Alabama won out and Oklahoma Condition, with probably the most potent offenses in the united states, took its first BCS appearance like a consolation prize.
"We wanted the chance to stay the controversy which has gone all seasons concerning the offense within the Large 12 and also the defense within the SEC," Oklahoma Condition coach Mike Gundy stated on ESPN.
The Tide and Tigers performed a tough-striking defensive slog charged as the overall game from the Century. Also it was exciting in the manner Notre Dame and Army's scoreless tie was exciting within the 1946 version of the overall game from the Century.
The overall game was barely over when talk of rematch began, professional and disadvantage.
Oklahoma Condition is at position to help keep it from happening. The Cowboys were undefeated and 2nd within the BCS standings heading right into a Friday evening game at Iowa Condition, a next day of Oklahoma Condition women's basketball coach Kurt Budke as well as an assistant coach were wiped out inside a plane crash.
The Cowboys lost 37-31 in double OT towards the so-so Cyclones (6-6), missing a possible game-winning area goal in the finish of regulation by inches.
Without any other undefeated teams left in the major conferences, Alabama came back to No. 2 and also the debate increased more heated.
Ultimately, Oklahoma Condition could not overcome that certain loss.
Now Saban and Miles, who've been tussling for supremacy within the SEC West around the area and also the prospecting trail, will square off for that ultimate prize.
And do not dare sest either to of these it's for anything less.
"I believe whomever wins the overall game ought to be seen because the national champion," Saban stated, echoing Miles' sentiment. "Instead of rehash the machine we ought to investigate on which will make the machine better later on."
Rivers, Chargers Gouge Reeling Jaguars, 38-14
Regardless of the number of interceptions he put, regardless of the number of turnovers he committed, Philip Rivers declined to be cautious.
He understood things would change.
They finally did. On "Monday Evening Football" believe it or not, with his North Park Battery chargers within the greatest of holes.
Rivers put for 294 yards and three touchdowns, burning Jacksonville's depleted secondary early and frequently, and also the Battery chargers beat the Jaguars 38-14 to snap a six-game losing streak.
The Battery chargers (5-7) have been awaiting the 3-time Professional Bowl selection revisit form. Some asked whether or not this happens this year. But Rivers never lost belief despite the fact that he leads the National football league in interceptions (17) and turnovers (21) and would be a key area of the team's disappointing slide.
"It has been a tough six days," Rivers stated. "I've not put an entire game together, however i don't worry about the amounts. Among the finest to win."
Rivers was nearly perfect against The city of jacksonville (3-9), contributing to the team's tumultuous week.
He completed 22 of 28 passes - connecting track of Vincent Brown, Vincent Jackson and Malcom Floyd for lengthy scores - before sitting the final couple of minutes. Rivers carried out with a 146.1 QB rating, undoubtedly his greatest of year.
The Battery chargers obtained on five of the first six drives, then sent the majority of the home crowd scrambling for that exits with Ryan Mathews' 31-yard TD run within the 4th. Mathews went 13 occasions for 112 yards.
"That's the kind of chemistry entering this year we understood we'd,Inch tight finish Antonio Gates stated. "We remained on the right course despite what we have experienced these last six days. That people could obtain a win tonight talks volumes with this team."
It had been a significantly-needed victory for any team that trails Colorado and Concord by two games within the AFC West with four to experience.
Also it was another blow towards the Jaguars, who suffered probably the most sweeping alterations in the 17-year good reputation for the franchise a week ago.
Team owner Wayne Weaver fired coach Jack Del Rio and introduced he was selling the club to Illinois businessman Shahid Khan. Interim coach Mel Tucker fired devices coach Johnny Cox, reassigned quarterbacks coach Mike Sheppard and waived beginning receiver Jason Hill.
The moves appeared to invigorate a franchise which had apparently gone stale in Del Rio's ninth season. Fans turned up vitalized for any prime-time game that signaled the beginning of a brand new era. Some used "Yes We Khan" T-t shirts. Other donned fake mustaches to emulate the dog owner-in-waiting.
It made little difference around the area, mostly because Jacksonville's defensive injuries demonstrated an excessive amount of to beat.
The Jaguars performed without their top three cornerbacks - Rashean Mathis, Derek Cox and can Middleton - and lost safety Dwight Lowery (shoulder) and defensive finish John Chick (knee) throughout the overall game.
"No excuses here," Tucker stated. "We will not allow ourselves to visit lower that road."
Rivers required benefit of the injuries, picking on a set of cornerbacks who have been signed from the street in recent days.
Rivers put a 22-yard TD pass to Brown along with a 35-yarder to Jackson around the final two drives from the first half because the Battery chargers transformed a short deficit to get control. Individuals scores arrived the ultimate 2:32 from the half.
The Battery chargers obtained on five of the first six drives, then sent the majority of the home crowd scrambling for that exits with Ryan Mathews' 31-yard TD run within the 4th. Mathews went 13 occasions for 112 yards.
"That's the kind of chemistry entering this year we understood we'd,Inch tight finish Antonio Gates stated. "We remained on the right course despite what we have experienced these last six days. That people could obtain a win tonight talks volumes with this team."
It had been a significantly-needed victory for any team that trails Colorado and Concord by two games within the AFC West with four to experience.
Also it was another blow towards the Jaguars, who suffered probably the most sweeping alterations in the 17-year good reputation for the franchise a week ago.
Team owner Wayne Weaver fired coach Jack Del Rio and introduced he was selling the club to Illinois businessman Shahid Khan. Interim coach Mel Tucker fired devices coach Johnny Cox, reassigned quarterbacks coach Mike Sheppard and waived beginning receiver Jason Hill.
The moves appeared to invigorate a franchise which had apparently gone stale in Del Rio's ninth season. Fans turned up vitalized for any prime-time game that signaled the beginning of a brand new era. Some used "Yes We Khan" T-t shirts. Other donned fake mustaches to emulate the dog owner-in-waiting.
It made little difference around the area, mostly because Jacksonville's defensive injuries demonstrated an excessive amount of to beat.
The Jaguars performed without their top three cornerbacks - Rashean Mathis, Derek Cox and can Middleton - and lost safety Dwight Lowery (shoulder) and defensive finish John Chick (knee) throughout the overall game.
"No excuses here," Tucker stated. "We will not allow ourselves to visit lower that road."
Rivers required benefit of the injuries, picking on a set of cornerbacks who have been signed from the street in recent days.
Rivers put a 22-yard TD pass to Brown along with a 35-yarder to Jackson around the final two drives from the first half because the Battery chargers transformed a short deficit to get control. Individuals scores arrived the ultimate 2:32 from the half.
"I do not think anybody continues to be through anything like this,Inch stated Maurice Johnson-Came, who carried out with 188 total yards. "This can be a $9 billion business. Apart from that, we performed football. We have reached learn how to carry on for four quarters and never two."
Johnson-Came was the lone offensive star for The city of jacksonville - again. He carried out with 97 yards hurrying and 91 yards receiving. He leads the National football league in hurrying with 1,137 yards.
MJD caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Blaine Gabbert to cap a 79-yard drive at the beginning of the 2nd quarter. The Jaguars handled only 27 yards within the opening quarter.
Following a three-and-by the Battery chargers, Gabbert and Came connected on the 48-yard shovel pass. It had been a superbly performed play, with Gabbert moving the ball five yards together with his left hands to Came, who had the center of the area all to themself and went lower towards the 4-yard line.
Battery chargers cornerback Antoine Cason split up a possible touchdown pass to Jarett Dillard, but on third-and-goal in the 5, Gabbert found Cecil Shorts within the back corner from the finish zone to provide the Jaguars a 14-10 lead.
It had been all North Park next, mostly because of Rivers.
Notes: Battery chargers C Nick Hardwick (neck) left within the first half, but later came back. ... LB Jesse Butler (feet) left the overall game and didn't return. ... The Battery chargers enhanced to 18-2 in December and The month of january under Turner. ... The Jaguars have forfeit 12 of the last 15 games, dating to last season. ... Gabbert completed 19 of 33 passes for 195 yards, with two touchdowns as well as an interception, his best game since early October. ... An overlooked play was offensive tackle Guy Whimper's 17-yard reception. He demonstrated soft hands and nimble ft. Battery chargers S Eric Weddle did not appear to wish any kind of dealing with the 302-pound lineman.
MLB Recap: Braves 9, Giants 6 (10 innings)
Nate McLouth hit a two-run single with two outs in the 10th inning and the visiting Atlanta Braves completed a three-game sweep of the San Francisco Giants with a 9-6 victory on Sunday.
McLouth's bases-loaded hit to center off Brian Wilson (0-1) drove in Chipper Jones and Dan Uggla with the go-ahead runs. Brian McCann followed with a run-scoring single as Atlanta stretched San Francisco's losing streak to four games. Wilson looked like he could escape the jam by retiring two straight after loading the bases with no outs.
Eric O'Flaherty (1-1) pitched two innings of scoreless relief for Atlanta to post the win and Jonny Venters pitched the 10th for his first save, as Atlanta swept a series in San Francisco for the first time since 1998.
Atlanta had a 5-2 lead in the seventh after Jason Heyward's three-run homer off Jeremy Affeldt. San Francisco responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning on Miguel Tejada's bases-loaded walk, Nate Schierholtz's groundout and Aaron Rowand's two-run double. Uggla tied the game in the eighth with a leadoff homer off Sergio Romo.
The Braves led 2-0 in the first after a two-run double by Jones. Buster Posey tied the game in the fourth with a two-run homer.
Atlanta starter Brandon Beachy struck out seven in six innings. Beachy gave up two runs and three hits and didn't walk anyone. Giants starter Jonathan Sanchez gave up two runs and two hits in five innings. He struck out five and walked three.
Former aide testifies she saw Bonds injected / Baseball Notebook
Tears streaming, Barry Bonds' former personal shopper became the first and only one of the government's 23 witnesses at his federal trial to say she saw the all-time home run leader getting an injection from his personal trainer.
Kathy Hoskins testified Thursday that Greg Anderson injected the sler in the navel, contradicting sworn testimony that Bonds gave to a grand jury.
Hoskins said she saw Anderson at Bonds' Bay Area home about 20 times from 2001 until 2003, when she worked for him. As part of her job, Hoskins packed the baseball star's clothes for road trips.
Bonds and Anderson often went into an office alone for a few minutes, she said. On one occasion, though, Anderson came into the bedroom as she was filling a suitcase.
Hoskins said that Bonds told Anderson they did not have to go into another room while she packed.
" 'This is Katie,' " Hoskins quoted Bonds as saying. " 'That's my girl. She's not going to say' " anything.
After Anderson injected Bonds in the stomach, Hoskins testified, Bonds told her: " 'That's a little something, something for when I go on the road. You can't detect it.' "
Hoskins said she didn't ask what was in the injection.
Bonds is charged with lying under oath when he told a federal grand jury in 2003 that Anderson never injected him and that he never knowingly used steroids or human growth hormones. Human growth hormones are often injected in the stomach.
Hoskins said Thursday she did not want to testify. She said she told her brother, a key prosecution witness, about Bonds' injection the day after it happened. She said Steve Hoskins then told the FBI about her because he and Bonds had a falling-out over money.
"He threw me under the bus," Kathy Hoskins said of her brother. "That is why I am here."
• Albert Pujols shared a big hug with manager Tony La Russa, then endured an awful start to what could be his 11th and final season in St. Louis. Pujols grounded into a career-worst three double plays while going 0 for 5. He cut off contract negotiations this spring and could be a free agent in the fall.
• Giants pitcher Barry Zito showed up at Dodger Stadium wearing a neck brace after his car was hit broadside Wednesday night in West Hollywood. He was scheduled to have an MRI exam.
• Milwaukee became the first team in 42 years to open the season with back-to-back homers when Rickie Weeks and Carlos Gomez did it in Cincinnati. In 1969, the Reds' Pete Rose and Bobby Tolan connected off the Dodgers' Don Drysdale.
• Salaries for the 27 players on Kansas City's opening-day roster and disabled lists total $36.1 million. Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez alone makes $32 million and is baseball's highest-paid player for the 11th straight year.
• Former Mariner Mike Sweeney, who signed a one-day contract this month and retired as a Royal, threw out the first pitch in Kansas City.
• White Sox players built a snowman and had a snowball fight in the team's workout in Cleveland before their opener Friday. Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen called the idea of starting the season in frigid Cleveland "very stupid."
• First-pitch temperatures for opening games were 41 degrees in Washington and Cincinnati and 42 in New York. "I couldn't really feel my toes," Nationals reliever Tyler Clippard said.
• Mets OF Jason Bay started the season on the disabled list because of a strained left rib cage. He'll be eligible to return April 9.
Florida finishes BYU, Jimmer Fredette 83-74
NEW ORLEANS—The team Jimmer Fredette carried through the past month dropped him in the Sweet 16.
Fredette, the Sporting News college basketball player of the year, encountered extraordinary defensive attention, a busted chin and cramps that left him half-limping, but what knocked him out of the 2011 NCAA Tournament, 83-74 in overtime, was a balanced Florida attack and a group of teammates who couldn’t provide support on a challenging Thursday night at the New Orleans Arena.
Guard Jackson Emery hit three times from 3-point range in the first half, then was shut down the rest of the night. Charles Abouo, a hero in the team’s big win at San Diego State last month, shot 2-of-9 from the field here.
Center Noah Hartsock was 3-of-9 from the field, and his biggest error was failing to pursue a rebound with 20 seconds left after UF guard Kenny Boynton missed a 3-pointer from the left corner. That gave the Gators a chance to set up a final shot, but Chandler Parsons’ drive was covered by three defenders and fell weakly off the rim.
UF power forward Alex Tyus tied for the Gators scoring lead with 19 points. Though guard Kenny Boynton strled with accuracy on a night when he expended extraordinary energy defending Fredette, he hit four big 3-pointers and also scored 17.
Fredette took forever to get into the scorebook—until 6:17 remained in the first half —but eventually he energized the Cougars with 32 points (11-of-29 from field, 3-of-15 on 3-pointers) in what was left of the game. The rest of his teammates scored only 40 and shot 32 percent from the field.
Fredette tied the score three times in the final six minutes of regulation, first with an audacious 30-foot 3-pointer in transition and then with two free throws and a layup.
BYU had a chance to assume the lead with 2:30 left, but Abouo tried to take on three Florida defenders in transition and couldn’t convert a layup. They had another at 1:40 but Fredette missed a deep 3-pointer.
When Tyus went to the line seconds later, he had a chance to put the Gators in front and made one attempt, and it was 68-67.
Fredette tried again from deep at that juncture, off the dribble from 25, but that one rolled off the rim and the Gators had an opportunity to put some distance between themselves and BYU.
Guard Erving Walker missed a Jimmer-style 3-pointer, though, and BYU’s Kyle Collinsworth answered after the rebound by making one of his two free throws to tie it at 68-all.
In overtime, BYU appeared to be at a disadvantage because of its short rotation. The Cougars got only 39 minutes from their reserves in regulation, compared to 53 from the Gators bench. Florida dominated the extra period following Tyus’ follow basket to open, then a pull-up jumper by Boynton in the lane.
UCLA builds an early lead against Michigan State
Things are tilting UCLA's way in the early going of its NCAA tournament opener.
The Bruins got the cohesive start they needed and have contained Michigan State guard Kalin Lucas, holding him scoreless through the first eight-plus minutes of their Southeast Region second-round game Thursday night at the St. Pete Times Forum.
Tyler Honeycutt has six early points for UCLA, which has a 14-8 lead over the Spartans. The Bruins are expending admirable effort on defense, keeping Lucas in check after he missed his first three shots.
The early going of the late game here could determine whether UCLA is one and done in the NCAA tournament.
If the Bruins come out with energy and focus in the first five minutes of their Southeast Region opener against Michigan State at the St. Pete Times Forum, it will go a long way toward helping them collect their first postseason victory in two years.
Lackluster starts have plagued UCLA throughout much of an up-and-down season, and it's usually apparent not long after the opening tip whether the Bruins are bringing it. It was obvious against Washington State in their regular-season finale that the Bruins didn't come to play, and it was even more evident last week during a loss to Oregon in the Pacific 10 Conference tournament.
"It's very clear the first five minutes," junior guard Jerime Anderson said. "I think it's going to be really crucial that we come out and have a good start because this is not the time to be playing from behind, so we have to come out and play hard and play smart and get good shots."
UCLA will likely look to work the ball inside to freshman center Joshua Smith, who is starting for the first time since Jan. 9. The Spartans don't have anyone who can match the 6-foot-10, 305-pounder's size.
"Nobody has anybody the size of Josh," Bruins Coach Ben Howland said earlier this week.
Sophomore forward Reeves Nelson also must be engaged on both ends of the court for UCLA to have a chance to knock off a team that advanced to the Final four the last two NCAA tournaments.
And junior guard Malcolm Lee will need to contain dynamic guard Kalin Lucas, preventing him from replicating his 30-point performance last week against Purdue in the Big ten Conference tournament.
"I haven't got to watch any film on him yet," Lee said Wednesday, "but I heard he can get in the lane and shoot jumpers. It's going to be a tough matchup."
What makes Barber run back to NFL?
After trying to promote Tiki Barber, then explain him, then advocate for the retired running back the previous two days, agent Mark Lepselter switched tactics in the face of the backlash Barber has caught since saying he wants to return to the NFL.
Barber's camp has decided no more trading barbs -- for now anyway -- with uncomplimentary ex-Giants teammates like Antonio Pierce and Justin Tuck, the anonymous NFL personnel men who have panned Barber's return plans, or anyone else inclined to sest Barber is coming back because he needs the money, or something even more trite than that. What if it just proves Barber's ego is making him look silly again?
"Right now we are laying low," Lepselter said Thursday, explaining he just wanted to give a reporter the courtesy of a call-back but couldn't talk further.
"When Tiki signs [with an NFL team] we will have further comment."
The stance is understandable. But it won't stop other people from talking about Barber, whose romantic relationship with a 23-year-old, unpaid NBC intern made headlines last year.
When asked directly if Barber is broke because of his messy, pending divorce or his loss of his two NBC jobs last year, a TV professional who has worked with Barber in the past said Thursday, "Either that, or there's a reality show coming, I'm just not sure."
So it's come to that? Tiki Barber: The Hard Knocks-Turned-Hard Luck Story?
In the last year alone, Barber -- a smooth guy who always portrayed himself as a family man and atypical jock living a considered life -- has become a sad case study in how to ruin two vibrant careers, not just one.
He's de-evolved from a hotly recruited network TV presence, Giants legend and children's-book author who spoke up often about the hurt caused by his own absent father, to an accused phony who has alienated his former bosses and ex-teammates and left his pregnant wife.
When highlights of Barber's runs were played on the New Meadowlands scoreboard in recent years, Barber was routinely booed by the same Giants fans he once thrilled -- and that was true even before he separated from his wife of 11 years just weeks before their twin daughters were born last spring. The Barbers have four children and are now in the midst of a contentious divorce.
Barber's chances of making an NFL comeback at 36 and after four years out of the game would seem slim, even as a situational running back. And nobody who paid attention to Barber's NFL career is buying that love-of-the-game explanation he gave to Foxsports.com, as if he was cribbing from one of Michael Jordan's comeback playbooks and returning because at heart he's just another kid with a dream, a ball and an identical twin named Ronde whom he might like to go play with in Tampa.
When Barber quit football at the age of 31, he was coming off his three best seasons and he left a $4.625 million salary for 2007 on the table.
The Giants won a Super Bowl that season without him.
Now, for the second time, it looks like Barber quit too soon.
When Barber retired he was frank -- even justifiably proud -- about his post-football plans. After two years of learning the ropes at a New York City Fox TV affiliate, he was heading to NBC to try to be the sports division's next Bryant Gumbel or -- better yet -- a man-of-many-hats newsman like the network's Matt Lauer. Barber signed a deal to work for NBC's Sunday night football telecast, and as a correspondent to "Today," the prestigious morning show. He seemed on his way. He spoke of doing news, not just sports, and using his brain to branch out into other fields rather than being just another ex-jock coasting on his football reputation.
But his parting from the Giants wasn't warm, despite how great a player he was. Teammates were privately making mental notes about how he seemed more interested in managing his career up and hobnobbing with the likes of Giants co-owner Jonathan Tisch rather than with them. Even before he retired, some Giants found Barber smug, self-absorbed, as though he thought he was better than grunts like them.
Now it's all bubbling up.
Some Giants, including Pierce, didn't like how Barber leaked his coming retirement during the 2006 season. It only got worse after Barber quit and later said coach Tom Coughlin's demands contributed to the running back's early retirement, or that some of quarterback Eli Manning's early-career attempts at leadership were laughable.
Barber must not have left NBC with all of his friendships intact, either. Once his affair became public he was even the butt of jokes in this stinging Jay Leno monologue on the network in April:
"Well, Tiger Woods got some good news today -- it's called Tiki Barber," Leno began. "Oh, man. Former NFL player and 'Today' show correspondent Tiki Barber has announced he's leaving his wife, who is eight-months pregnant with twins, for a 23-year-old NBC intern who is his mistress."
Disapproving groans from the audience.
"Well, she's not a full-fledged mistress yet -- she's just interning for the position!" Leno added, to loud jeers.
In the lengthy annals of sports stars behaving badly, Barber's transgressions clearly left some people highly offended. But as his loyalists might point out, nothing he's done approaches the criminal behavior other athletes have engaged in. He's not the first man to have a painful divorce, either.
Yet for whatever reason -- probably that ego of Barber's again -- he seems to be especially radioactive right now. His divorce settlement isn't finished. A cycling fitness chain company sued him for a $1 million, too, alleging he was worthless to them as a celebrity spokesman because of his extramarital affair. Since leaving NBC, his most high-profile media work lately has been webcasts for Yahoo.
Will Barber's pariah status last?
"Not to sound callous, but I don't see why it would," a broadcast executive, who met with Barber when he was shopping himself for a job, said Thursday, laughing jadedly. "It's like, I just saw something on TV that Mel Gibson is off the hook now after his latest meltdown because Charlie Sheen has taken over. Things happens all the time. A new story comes along."
The same executive doesn't discount the possibility that Barber's job performance, not just the intern scandal, contributed to NBC not renewing his contract.
"He did have big expectations, but he also landed a pretty big gig right away with NBC, and I think they had lofty expectations for him, too," the executive says. "On the 'Today' show, anyway, I believe he went very quickly from being prominent, to being on the show less, to just being buried. The same was true on Sunday night football. To me, that tells me the executives there thought he wasn't growing or striving as well as they were expecting him to. Or that he wasn't putting the time into it. Because he came across as very articulate, very intelligent, very charismatic once on camera."
To New Yorkers, especially, here's the rub with Barber: The story of how Barber left his wife ran so contrary to his carefully cultivated image as a family man/football star who was smart enough to get out of the NFL with his brain and knees intact. Then he dissed the team and his former teammates, too.
And now he wants to come back to the NFL like all is forgotten?
Rather than get behind his comeback as though it's some great adventure, people are mocking Barber instead.
A love-of-the-game comeback? No one's buying that. But the sestion he's still enthralled with himself -- that Tiki loves Tiki? Now you're talking. ...
Might even make a good title for a reality series.
Manning, Brady, Brees will be lead plaintiffs if players sue NFL
When NFL players sued the league in the early 1990s, leading to the free agency they have today, they chose one of the best and most respected players in football to lead the charge: Reggie White.
Nearly two decades later, the players have decided that if they decertify as a union and take the owners to court again, they’ll choose three of their best and most respected players to lead the charge: Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Drew Brees.
According to multiple reports, the players’ side has decided that the three star quarterbacks with five Super Bowl rings among them should be the names attached to their lawsuit, if they decertify and go to court.
Choosing three well-known, well-liked, well-respected players to serve as the public faces of the players’ side is an obvious decision — even if choosing three well-paid players will make it tougher for this battle to shed the “millionaires vs. billionaires” label that the players don’t like.
That may be why Patriots guard Logan Mankins has also agreed to be named a plaintiff in the pending antitrust action if the union decertifies, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter: Mankins is an example of a player who, as a free agent with five years of experience, got the short end of the stick in 2010. Mankins’ agent recently called his treatment “a travesty.”
Support for Cipriani the key: Dwyer
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ON A frantic final full day of wheeling and dealing before the Asian Champions League transfer window closes, Sydney FC completed a surprise swoop on Wellington Phoenix captain Andrew Durante.
The 28-year old defender will join the Sky Blues for the ACL group stages before re-signing with the Phoenix for next season's A-League campaign, similar to cheap jerseythe deal that Sydney have already struck with North Queensland Fury forward David Williams.
There could be more signings today - including that of former Perth captain Jamie Coyne - when the transfer window closes in the early afternoon, with the club still to make some big decisions on who to include in the final squad.
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Of most contention is who will be cut as the club's management finalises its jling of the ''3+1'' quota, which allows for three foreign players and one Asian player to be included in the squad.
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While Japanese midfielder Hirofumi Moriyasu will be given the nod ahead of out-of-contract Korean defender Sung-Hwan Byun for the Asian position, a decision on the unlucky foreigner to go - to be one of Bruno Cazarine, Juho Makela, Terry McFlynn or Stephan Keller - might not be made until the final hour.
However, one issue has been resolved after midfielder Stuart Musialik yesterday accepted the offer of a contract extension, which takes him through to the end of May, even if his long-term future at the club remains unknown.
The deal to bring Durante to the club is a significant coup for Sydney given his experience as a championship-winning captain at Newcastle in 2007-8 and his three subsequent seasons at Wellington, where he has been lauded for his leadership and no-frills approach.
"I only heard about the possibility of me joining them at lunchtime and the deal had to be done today if I was to be eligible," he said yesterday. "Obviously I was keen to go because it will be a fantastic experience.
"I missed out playing in the Champions League two years ago when Newcastle Jets qualified because I was joining the Phoenix. To get a second chance is amazing The [Phoenix] has been fantastic with [owner] Terry [Serepisos] and [coach] Ricki [Herbert] giving me their blessing.''
Despite a poor showing in the A-League this season, with the team failing to make the finals after winning the title the previous year, Durante is confident the Blues can bounce back on the Asian stage.
"I think Sydney could go well in the competition because they have been playing well in the last few weeks and have signed a couple of players,'' he said. "Besides myself, they have signed David Williams for the Champions League and I believe Jamie Coyne will be joining as well."
Herbert said he had no concerns in allowing his skipper to return to his home city for the next three months.
"It is a great opportunity for him to have exposure in a competition like that," he said. "It will be beneficial for the Phoenix for him to have that experience.''
Sydney coach Vitezslav Lavicka said Durante's signing would help fill a hole that some argue has not been filled since Simon Colosimo's departure. "He gives us more depth in defence, of course, but as he is versatile we can use him in a number of positions,'' Lavicka said yesterday.
