Heat owner Arison fined after comments
October 31, 2011
NEW YORK (AP)—Miami Heat owner Micky Arison has been fined by the NBA,three days after he produced references to the locked-out league’s ongoingcollective bargaining process on his Twitter account.
The NBA did not disclose the quantity of the fine, or say publicly why Arisonwas sanctioned.
Arison posted numerous tweets Friday night, such as a reply to someone whoreferred to those involved with the lockout as “greedy … pigs.” Arisonreplied by saying “Honestly u r barking at the wrong owner.”
That tweet was deleted a brief time later.
The NBA normally prohibits owners from speaking publicly about the laborsituation. Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan was fined in September afterhe told an Australian media outlet the NBA’s current small business model was“broken.”
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Cubs introduce Hoyer as GM;(STRYLINK NAME:v0112; SLUG:2010 APBC-BBN–Cubs-Hoyer 1st Ld-Writethru,0663;))(HEADLINE XHL:Indians acquire RHP Lowe from Braves
October 31, 2011
CLEVELAND (AP)—Derek Lowe’s(notes) durability—and cost tag—were too much forthe Cleveland Indians to resist.
The club acquired the 15-year veteran pitcher from the Atlanta Braves onMonday for a minor leaguer, a low-threat move created to bolster Cleveland’sstarting rotation.
The Indians got the 38-year-old Lowe, who has 166 career wins, in exchangefor left-hander Chris Jones. As portion of the deal, the Indians will only have topay Lowe $five million of the $15 million he’s scheduled to make in 2012. Lowesigned a four-year $60 million deal as a cost-free agent with Atlanta just before the 2009season.
Common manager Chris Antonetti stated Lowe right away assumes a spot in theIndians’ beginning staff, where he’ll join Ubaldo Jimenez(notes), Justin Masterson(notes), JoshTomlin(notes) and Fausto Carmona(notes). Just before the deal for Lowe was announced, the Indianspicked up Carmona’s $7 million choice for 2012.
“He’s a good quality pitcher with durability, pitching 180 innings or more everyyear due to the fact 2002,” Antonetti stated. “The last time he was on the disabled listwas 1995. In addition to his durability, there’s some leadership possible. Hisexperience will complement a incredibly young rotation. 1 of our goals was toimprove our beginning pitching.
“This goes a lengthy way towards that. Stability is crucial. Also, he can bea positive influence on young starting pitchers with comparable abilities.”
The Indians contended for most of 2011 just before injuries and inexperiencedropped them from the AL Central race. And although Lowe has some mileage on hisright arm, Cleveland believes he has enough left to maintain help next season.
Lowe has pitched in both leagues, as a starter and closer. One of just threepitchers in history with additional than 160 wins and 80 saves, Lowe went just 9-17with a five.05 ERA in 34 begins last season, his third with Atlanta. His 17 lossesled the league.
But with appropriate-hander Carlos Carrasco(notes) out for the season following TommyJohn surgery, the Indians, who traded leading prospects Alex White(notes) and Drew Pomeranz(notes)to Colorado for Jimenez in July, needed a different established starter and madefinding one an offseason priority—through trade or free agency.
Atlanta had a surplus of young arms and were searching to move Lowe, asinkerball pitcher.
Lowe was -five in September for the Braves, and struggled with is mechanicsfor considerably of the season. Following Atlanta faded down the stretch and missed thepostseason, GM Frank Wren stated, “It’s hard to project him as one of ourstarters at this point.”
On the other hand, the Indians have a spot for him and hope he can impact and mentortheir young pitchers the way veteran Kevin Millwood(notes) did when they signed him in2005
“We checked with former teammates and think he can evolve into that typeof (mentoring) role,” Antonetti stated. “He’s a guy who loves the game, enjoystalking baseball, likes to support.”
The Indians fully grasp there is the danger that a 38-year-old pitcher won’t beany far better when he turns 39. However, Antonetti is confident Lowe can bounceback from a tough season and he’s not concerned about him switching back to theAL soon after seven seasons in the NL.
“Derek relies a lot upon contact,” he said. “He is reliant on hisdefense, but we are confident that if he pounds the strike zone, gets groundballs and we pick up the ball behind him, he should have a much better year.”
Lowe is 166-146 with a 3.94 ERA in 356 career starts. In addition toAtlanta, Lowe has pitched with Seattle, Boston and the Los Angeles Dodgers sincebreaking into the majors in 1997. His 334 games started since 2002 is the mostin baseball more than the ten-season span.
Jones, 23, went 7-1 with a three.36 ERA in 43 appearances for Kinston (A).
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Conference realignment affecting hoops
October 31, 2011
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)—About a week ago, West Virginia coach Bob Hugginswas singing the virtues of a Huge East Conference that had already been poachedof Pittsburgh and Syracuse.
“I mean let’s be honest,” Huggins said at the time, “if you haveGeorgetown, Villanova, St. John’s, Connecticut, West Virginia, whoever—Louisville, you know, whoever, it’s still a really, extremely, really good basketballleague.”
Nicely, the conference realignment merry-go-round promptly sent West Virginiaspinning off to the Massive 12, and Huggins is now praising a conference that he’sbeen involved with prior to, 1 that added West Virginia only due to the fact it lostTexas A&M and Missouri is headed out the door.
The ongoing saga of conference realignment has been driven by the large-moneyworld of college football. Huggins knows that. But its ramifications on collegebasketball are undeniable.
Some conferences have won. Others have lost.
Divining who falls in each and every category is an physical exercise in mathematics, history—some would argue futility. Did the Large 12 add through subtraction? It losttraditional lightweights Nebraska and Colorado, most likely boosting its overall RPI,which figures heavily into the choices made by the NCAA tournament selectioncommittee every single March. What about the ACC adding Pittsburgh and Syracuse?
Exactly where does a Big East that doesn’t suddenly appear all that massive fit intothings?
“People ask me what’s it like. I’ve completed it ahead of,” DePaul coach OliverPurnell said. “When I was at Dayton, we were in the Great Midwest Conferencefor six months. That league blew up and it became, I think, Conference USA. Weweren’t invited in, and we went to the Atlantic 10.
“So I’ve been by means of it ahead of,” the former Clemson coach said. “At OldDominion, I was in the Sun Belt and Colonial Athletic Association. So althoughit appears like this stuff has by no means, ever happened before, certainly there aresome factors like that that have happened prior to.”
Just not on this level. Not this widespread.
It hasn’t ended, either. After the announcement last week that West Virginiais headed from the Huge East to the Massive 12, and with the pending defection ofMissouri from the Huge 12 to the SEC, the dominos are nonetheless teetering, and eachone that falls will knock a number of other people down.
The newest news has the Large East courting UCF and Memphis, among others. Ifthey choose to leave Conference USA, that traditionally robust basketball leaguewill go searching elsewhere to restock, and the merry-go-round will spin on andon.
“The minute you think every thing’s settled, it’s not,” Purnell mentioned.“When I initial got in the ACC, it was a nine-team league. 1 year later, it wasa 12-team league, and I believed that was quickly—not like this. This is lightningfast, what’s going on. Just remain tuned.”
With the tipoff approaching to the college basketball season, and fivemonths to go just before March Madness, let’s examine the winners and losers inconference realignment.
Speedily, prior to items alter once more.
WINNERS:
— ACC: Headlined by bluebloods like Duke and North Carolina, the AtlanticCoast Conference has traditionally been 1 of the toughest leagues in collegebasketball.
Then again, it’s straightforward to forget the Mountain West was tougher last year.
That doesn’t figure to be the case going forward, not following the ACC workedbehind the scenes and out of the spotlight to lure Big East brethren Pittsburghand Syracuse to its ranks.
The Panthers have created ten straight NCAA appearances, averaged an RPI of14.75 more than the past eight seasons, and won a combined six Massive East regularseason and tournament titles over the past decade.
Syracuse has been to 4 Final Fours behind the stewardship of Jim Boeheim.
“I transferred to Duke to play with the finest players in the country,against the greatest players,” said Duke guard Seth Curry, who began his collegecareer at Liberty. It seems he’ll get his chance.
— Large 12: Immediately after wobbling on the brink of extinction, and with a future thatremains somewhat murky, the Big 12 might have in fact come out ahead when itcomes to basketball.
Nebraska took its high-profile football program to the Major Ten, but alsotook along a hoops program with an typical RPI of 105 over the past eight years.Colorado has been an even bigger drain on the league, with one winning season inthe last five and an eight-year RPI average of 136.
That’s called addition by subtraction.
“No disrespect to those schools but I don’t think any person in our league isgoing to speak about Nebraska or Colorado moving forward,” Kansas coach BillSelf stated. “It’s not because we’re mad, but it’s just since I don’t feel youdeal with the `what ifs’ or `I thinks.”’
The Huge 12 added TCU for its football—certainly not for its middlingbasketball program—and the addition of West Virginia makes the pending loss ofMissouri to the SEC easier to manage.
— West Coast: Jimmer Fredette and BYU are a major reason the Mountain West wasa brutal location to play last season. Well, Fredette is gone to the NBA, and BYUis off to the West Coast Conference.
A league ruled by Gonzaga for years is all of a sudden deeper and much more talentedthan ever. BYU hasn’t been outside the top 35 in RPI the past 5 seasons.
“We were only going to do something if it was a best fitinstitutionally. On the other side, we had been only going to do some thing if itmakes us far better,” WCC commissioner Jamie Zaninovich mentioned. “This 1 was apretty apparent one in creating us better competitively.”
LOSERS:
— Major East: Arguably the toughest league in the country more than the past decadeand a record-setter last season with 11 teams in the NCAA tournament, the BigEast has been weakened considerably after losing two of its most storiesprograms in Pittsburgh and Syracuse.
The conference is looking for replacements that incorporate UCF and Memphis, andLouisville coach Rick Pitino has openly campaigned for Temple to return.Regardless of who signs on, the conference tournament at Madison Square Gardenwill have a a lot diverse feel going forward.
— Major Ten: Nebraska’s traditional strength in football is the main reasonthe Huge Ten came courting, but its hoops program doesn’t bring along almost thesame excitement.
The Huskers haven’t created the NCAA tournament due to the fact 1998.
“It’s not going to take as massive a toll as football does,” Northwesternguard Alex Marcotullio mentioned. “Adding Nebraska in the mix is just an additional teamand another opponent we have to worry about.”
— Pac-12: Commissioner Larry Scott definitely didn’t seek Colorado and Utahwhen he expanded the Pac-ten because of their prowess on the hardwood.
Colorado has only been to the NCAA tournament twice in the past fourdecades, and hasn’t been to the round of 16 considering that 1963. The as soon as-mighty Utes arecoming off a bleak 12-18 season.
“Everybody is tremendously excited about our conference expansion and theability it’s had to negotiate a new Television contract and enhance our geographicfootprint,” Arizona State coach Herb Sendek stated, hardly giving the newprograms a winning endorsement.
“The Pac-12 is seriously poised to continue moving forward,” Sendek said.
AP Sports Writers Beth Harris in Los Angeles, Janie McCauley in SanFrancisco, Andrew Seligman in Chicago and John Raby in Morgantown, W.Va.,contributed to this report.
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Colts to keep Manning on active roster
October 31, 2011
Peyton Manning watches preseason action.(AP)
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)—The Indianapolis Colts will maintain Peyton Manning(notes) on theactive roster so he can practice later this season, although it remains unlikelyManning will play in a normal-season game.
Bill Polian, the team’s vice chairman, told radio listeners Monday nightthat he would not necessarily want Manning playing behind their banged-upoffensive line. Injuries have decimated the line, forcing the Colts to insertthree new starters and move a fourth starter considering that opening day.
The only player who has began in the same location each and every week is Pro Bowlcenter Jeff Saturday(notes).
And with an -8 mark, it doesn’t look like the Colts will be generating aplayoff run.
But Polian wants Manning to practice so he can establish no matter whether he’srecovered from September’s neck surgery.
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Turf toe has Cards’ Kolb in walking boot
October 31, 2011
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP)—Arizona quarterback Kevin Kolb(notes) had his right foot in awalking boot on Monday to protect a turf toe injury and mentioned he had “no idea”whether he would be in a position to play in next Sunday’s property game against the St.Louis Rams.
Kolb was injured early in Sunday’s 30-27 loss at Baltimore but stayed in thegame.
“I did some things to help with the pain a little bit,” he said, “thenjust tried to gut it out and try to come up with a victory.”
If Kolb can’t go, second-year pro John Skelton(notes) almost certainly would get the start out.Skelton started four games late last season. A turf toe occurs when the toe isjammed severely, stretching the ligaments.
Kolb said he has had the injury prior to but not “near this severe.”
Kolb stated his initial plans are to function to decrease the swelling and discomfort,“then as the week goes on give it a lot more and far more movement and see what my bodyallows me to do.”
Kolb, who ran for a 1st down late in the game, said the injury didn’taffect his mobility so much as it did the velocity of his passes, due to the fact hepushes off with his correct foot.
“A lot of your power comes from that side of your foot,” Kolb stated, “onthat leg. When I had to take off and run I didn’t feel it or something. Itprobably was just nagging a little bit but nothing to throw me off my game.”
Consecutive games against two of the finest defenses in the NFL, Pittsburghand Baltimore, has left Arizona’s offense a bit battered. Rookie AnthonySherman(notes), the team’s only fullback, has turf toe on his left foot. Operating backBeanie Wells(notes) is playing with a sore knee.
Kolb has been sacked 24 time in seven games. The pressure he faced Sundaywas his most severe but. Of course, given that it was Baltimore, that shouldn’t besurprising.
“They run a difficult scheme and bring them from a lot of various places.You’ve got to step up in there and block them,” coach Ken Whisenhunt mentioned. “Wehave to get the ball out quicker in some circumstances. We had opportunities tomake them pay yesterday a couple of occasions, but we weren’t as efficient as weneeded to be from a protection standpoint or from getting the ball out. That’salways tough.
“When you add in the noise, understanding your guys are going to be late off theball, giving them the benefit, it is actually a difficult scenario. I don’t thinkpeople appreciate how tough that is. That’s why they’re a excellent defense andthey’re a tough team to play there.”
It was Arizona’s fourth loss by 4 points or fewer, and this 1 wasespecially difficult to take. The Cardinals, huge underdogs, took advantage of twoturnovers to score 14 points and take an early 24-three lead only to see the Ravensrun off 24 straight to go on leading 27-24. Nonetheless, Arizona tied it at 27-27 beforegiving up a late drive that resulted in a last-second 25-yard field goal byBilly Cundiff(notes) to give Baltimore the win.
There’s not a lot for the fans to cheer about, and that has led to concernthe game against the Rams won’t be a sellout. The Cardinals have sold out everyhome game due to the fact University of Phoenix Stadium opened in 2006.
“We’re working challenging to attempt to make sure we’re taking care of organization, andwe haven’t performed that,” Whisenhunt said. “It’s been a difficult stretch for ourfans, I understand that, and we’re working challenging to attempt to get that fixed.Hopefully, they’ll continue to assistance us. We’ve had a number of thrilling gamesthere and they’ve been a big component of that. All I can tell you is that we’regoing to have much more there, and we certain would appreciate the assistance.”
Soon after Sunday’s game, Arizona plays three in a row on the road, where theyhave lost 11 straight dating to the 2010 season opener at St. Louis.
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Broncos’ Fox sticking with Tebow for now
October 31, 2011
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP)—Tim Tebow(notes) wasn’t sacked Monday.
One day soon after giving his embattled young quarterback a much less than ringingendorsement following a humiliating 45-10 loss at house to the Lions, Broncoscoach John Fox stated he’s sticking with Tebow.
“For this week, yes,” Fox said.
Tebow said he doesn’t feel as although he’s on a week-to-week basis but thathe’s not 1 to fret about the future anyway.
“It’s just take it 1 day at a time, consistently attempting to get far better andnot focusing too far in the future,” Tebow told The Associated Press. “Today’sthe day I’ve got to strengthen and that’s kind of the focus.”
By not committing to him beyond Sunday’s game at Oakland, Fox produced it clearthat Tebow has to quickly strengthen as a pocket passer to retain his startingstatus in Denver.
“I believe at the finish of the day, we’ve got to see if he can increase and getbetter in the passing game,” Fox mentioned.
Given that supplanting Kyle Orton(notes) at halftime against San Diego on Oct. 9, Tebowhas completed 46 percent of his passes (35 for 76) and been sacked 13 times.
“I think we absolutely need to enhance. I believe we will,” Tebow stated.“Just the timing and finding in and out of the suitable plays and getting moreconsistent. … Every single day I’m just coming in here and attempting to get superior andimproving and whatever they ask I’m going to do.”
Tebow, who pulled out a stunning win at Miami two weeks ago in his firststart this season regardless of playing poorly for most of the game, stated he feels asthough the coaching staff still has his back.
“I feel they have confidence in me, but a lot more than something, I’ve got tohave confidence in myself and my teammates about me and at the end of the daythat’s what matters,” Tebow stated.
He insisted his confidence wasn’t rattled by the Lions’ landslide.
“We did some very good points and improved on some things,” Tebow suggested.“It wasn’t all poor, it just didn’t necessarily look that way. But that’s thething about it, it’s never ever as bad as it seems, it’s by no means as very good as it seems.”
The Broncos had eight possessions of three plays or fewer Sunday, turned itover when on downs and 3 occasions on takeaways, two of which had been returned fortouchdowns. Tebow was sacked seven times and his only TD toss came after theLions had built a 42-point lead while razzing him with imitations of hisprayerful pose that’s develop into an on the internet sensation.
“We knew he was a scrambling quarterback,” Lions linebacker StephenTulloch(notes) mentioned. “We knew he was going to try to get out of the pocket and try tokeep plays alive and we did a superior job just executing. He’s a young player. He’sgot a lot to find out as a player. Take nothing from him, he’s a winner, he finds away to win. He just wants to clean up some factors in his pass game, but thattakes time.”
The Broncos attempted to adapt to Tebow’s unconventional skill set, spreadingout the offense and speeding up the tempo, even sprinkling in some selection-readplays, but nothing seemed to perform really effectively.
The Lions crowded the line of scrimmage and utilized Tulloch as a spy to keepthe second-year scrambler from running. They blitzed him on much more than 50 percentof his dropbacks, pushing the pocket and containing the edge with a disciplinedpass rush.
Lions cornerback Chris Houston(notes), who returned an interception 100 yards for atouchdown, revealed Detroit’s game program was to stack the box and make Tebow tryto beat them with his arm.
“We just wanted to make him be a quarterback right now,” Houston stated afterthe game. “… He’s an athlete, he’s no Tom Brady(notes) or Peyton Manning(notes) or nothinglike that. Or Michael Vick(notes) or absolutely nothing like that. He’s got a lengthy ways to go asfar as getting a quarterback, but he’s a hard worker.”
Tebow didn’t make swift decisions or rapid throws, and his lengthy, loopingthrowing motion led to a strip by defensive end Cliff Anvil, who scooped up thefumbled football and scored a touchdown.
Tebow’s quarterback rating this season is 75.1, nearly identical to the 75.7rating that expense Orton his beginning job during the team’s 1-4 begin.
If Tebow loses the gig, too, the Broncos could not go back to Orton butcould give Brady Quinn(notes) his first shot under center considering that his arrival two yearsago from Cleveland in the Peyton Hillis(notes) trade.
“You know, seriously, in this business all items are doable,” Fox stated.“And Brady’s a guy that we acquired ahead of I got here, but he’s shown flashesin our practice and (preseason) games, so correct now we’re in the method offinding out who the quarterback is and we’ll leave it at that.”
Fox mentioned he trusts Tebow will understand from his errors and get superior.
“He’s competitive by nature, and I think he’ll respond just fine,” Foxsaid.
The process only gets tougher for Tebow. The Broncos play four of their nextfive games on the road and six of the remaining nine games are against teamsthat employ the 3-four defensive scheme that’s given him fits as he tries torecognize exactly where the fourth rusher is coming from.
Initially issues 1st. Tebow said he doesn’t feel as although he’s on a shortleash and is content material to let tomorrow take care of itself.
“I feel like every single week I’m going to take the game strategy and do the greatest Ican with it and maintain enhancing with it and take my weaknesses and try to makethem strengths,” he stated.
Notes: RB Willis McGahee(notes) said he’ll test his surgically-repaired proper handthis week in hopes he can return to action soon after missing Sunday’s game. He gothurt at Miami two weeks ago when his appropriate hand got stuck in a defender’s facemask, drawing an infraction that price him a $7,500 fine, which he mentioned he’sappealing.
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Red Sox, Mackanin discuss manager’s job
October 31, 2011
BOSTON (AP)—The Boston Red Sox have interviewed Philadelphia Philliesbench coach Pete Mackanin for their vacant managerial job.
Mackanin is meeting with the media at Fenway Park on Monday night.
The Red Sox are also scheduled to speak to Milwaukee Brewers hitting coachDale Sveum this week.
Mackanin is searching to replace Terry Francona, who parted approaches with the teamafter its unprecedented September collapse. Mackanin also spent time in theExpos, Pirates, Reds and Yankees systems.
He was an interim manager with the Reds in 2007 and the Pirates in 2005,going 53-53 in the two temporary gigs. He is also 917-849 in 13 years as a minorleague manager.
Also Monday, the Red Sox declined contract selections on relievers Dan Wheeler(notes)and Scott Atchison(notes).
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BoSox talk to Mackanin for manager’s job
October 31, 2011
BOSTON (AP)—The Boston Red Sox have interviewed Philadelphia Philliesbench coach Pete Mackanin for their vacant managerial job.
Mackanin is meeting with the media at Fenway Park on Monday night.
The Red Sox are also scheduled to speak to Milwaukee Brewers hitting coachDale Sveum this week.
Mackanin is seeking to replace Terry Francona, who parted methods with the teamafter its unprecedented September collapse. Mackanin also spent time in theExpos, Pirates, Reds and Yankees systems.
He was an interim manager with the Reds in 2007 and the Pirates in 2005,going 53-53 in the two temporary gigs. He is also 917-849 in 13 years as a minorleague manager.
Also Monday, the Red Sox declined contract alternatives on relievers Dan Wheeler(notes)and Scott Atchison(notes).
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Rays pick up Shields, Farnsworth options
October 31, 2011
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)—The Tampa Bay Rays have exercised their $7.5million contract option for 2012 on pitcher James Shields(notes).
The club also picked up a $three.3 million alternative for next season for relieverKyle Farnsworth(notes) and declined a $three.2 million option on catcher Kelly Shoppach(notes) onMonday.
Shields went 16-12 with a two.82 ERA and 225 strikeouts in 2011, leading themajors with 11 total games, such as 4 shutouts to support the Rays make theplayoffs for the third time in four seasons. Farnsworth had a career-ideal 25saves in his very first season as a full-time closer.
Shoppach started 71 games and batted .176 with 11 homers and 22 RBIs.
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Munchak: Johnson remains Titans’ starter
October 31, 2011
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)—Tennessee coach Mike Munchak is doing his ideal todefuse a potential running back controversy.
Munchak produced it clear Monday that Chris Johnson remains the Titans’ starter,and he stated he sees the operating back operating tougher than ever in a situationwhere his contract extension produced high expectations.
Backup Javon Ringer(notes) will continue to play with the number of carries decidedduring every game.
Either way, the Titans still need to fix the NFL’s worst running game.
The challenge is the offense looks much better with Ringer, who looks strongerand faster than the man who had led the NFL in yards rushing between 2008 and2010.
The pressure to get CJ running only increases each week, and the Titans(four-three) host Cincinnati (five-two) on Sunday.
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