San Paul fireworks breakdown in big, fast flash

The San Paul Island was loaded. Resorts experiencing the bay were marketed out. And regional stations was set to simulcast a devoted ranking for the 4th of September display.

But instead of 20 moments of fireworks, the audience in San Paul got about 20 a few moments of massive, noisy booms after a pc accident sent several bulb-shaped explosions over the bay.

The show’s manufacturer held responsible a “technical glitch’’ Friday, saying one in its pc triggered a large number of fireworks on four boats to go off at the same time with a single control.

“It was like a massive, serious explosive device went off,’’ said Scott Newton, 29, a digital wedding photographer who experienced from a buddy's 28th-floor house. “That’s what it seemed like and sensed like. It hit you right in stomach area.’’

There were no revealed accidents and Lawn Condition Fireworks, based in Millington, N.J., apologized and promised to figure out accurately what went incorrect. The 122-year-old organization created a large number of other reveals across the nation Wed night.

August Santore, part-owner of Lawn Condition Fireworks, said the organization sensed dreadful, but the feelings was unforgiving among many of the hundreds of many individuals who experienced the explosions before they could get off their first “ooh’’ or “ah.’’

A devoted ranking was set to be simulcast on a regional stations place. The display was set to flow live on the Web.

The audience was standing in silent shock, with many thinking what just occurred to a display charged as the Big Bay Growth. Term went out on the air stations about 20 moments later that it was over.

Bre Nelson, a 26-year-old wedding coordinator, experienced from a hillside road loaded with “tons and plenty of individuals and vehicles.’’

“It was really nice to see the whole sky light up but then we just patiently waited there,’’ said Nelson. “Everyone was just seated around.’’

By overdue Friday mid-day, the fireworks fail had become a hit online with about 2 thousand opinions of the video on YouTube.

Sponsors provided about $380,000 to coordinator the display, said Exotic Purdon, proprietor of a bay harbour and the primary manager. The Slot of San Paul provided $145,000 as name attract, with accommodations and dining places providing much of the relax.

The port region provided an additional $50,000 worth of solutions, such as traffic control, convenient bathrooms and tidy up.

The fireworks price $125,000 and the boats and pulls price $45,000, Purdon said. After allows, advertising, vehicles and other costs, there was about $50,000 left, which was reserved to help young army family members though the San Paul Equipped Services YMCA.

The port region said in a declaration that it was “very disappointed’’ in what it described as an obvious specialized mistake.

Knicks Get Kidd and Create Programs to Keep Lin

Star factor protects kept traveling off the industry — one to their crosstown competitors, one to Artist, one to Facilities — and all the Knicks could do was resolution their tooth, combination brands off the panel and delay for some unlikely accident.

That time, and the factor secure, at last came Friday mid-day.

Jason Kidd, who was set to rejoin the Facilities Mavericks, created a overdue and amazing change and decided to be a aspect of the Knicks instead. Discussions were continuous This, and it was not yet obvious whether the Knicks would indication Kidd overall or obtain him in a sign-and-trade cope.

Just as Kidd dedicated, the Knicks discovered that Jeremy Lin, their ensuring 23-year-old factor secure, had decided to an offer piece with the Austin Rockets, further complicating the image further.

The Rockets’ offer could be value as much as $28.8 thousand over four decades, with backloaded expenses in the ultimate two conditions, according to a individual who was briefed on information. It all period is a group choice. Because Lin is a limited no cost broker, the Knicks have the right to go with the cope.

The offer piece cannot be finalized until the N.B.A. moratorium stops next Wed, after which the Knicks will have three times to either go with it or let Lin move. The Knicks are established to keep Lin, even if the agreement expenditures them large numbers more in luxury-tax expenses.

Under the Rockets’ offer, Lin would generate $5 thousand next period, $5.2 thousand in the second period and increase expenses of $9.3 thousand in the third and 4th conditions — a framework that is developed to suppress the Knicks from related the offer.

Houston is in anxious need of a factor secure, having decided to business their beginning, Kyle Lowry, to the Greater Raptors on Friday. The Rockets will obtain a first-round choose that, under the conditions of the business, is assured to be in the sweepstakes in one of the next four writes.

Houston also missing its well known back-up factor secure, Goran Dragic, who decided to conditions with the Arizona Team on Wed.

In dealing Lowry, the Rockets showed up to be going all in for Lin. It will be another 7 days before they know if they have him.

Kidd, a 10-time All-Star, would be an perfect tutor for Lin, as well as a confirmed playmaker who can arrange the Knicks’ sketchy felony and appear sensible of the confusing Carmelo anthony to lakers Anthony-Amar’e Amare conjunction. Even at age 39, Kidd has the abilities and the reliability to matter.

Landing Kidd requires some of the pain out of dropping Bob Nash to the Los Angeles Opposing group a day previously. It also gives the publicity-minded Knicks a moderate increase after they witnessed the Netting enjoy Deron Williams’s choice to stay with the group when it goes to Brooklyn.

Signing Kidd — who led the Netting to successive N.B.A. finals in 2002 and 2003 when they were in New Nj — contributes yet another aspect to the flourishing competition.

Kidd assisted cause the Mavericks to the tournament only 13 several weeks ago and is a exclusive secure for the Area of Popularity. But he is about to get into his Nineteenth century period. His times as an top level factor secure are over. The Knicks basically wish he can offer excellent moments every evening, whether as Lin’s back-up or as the beginning.

The most the Knicks can offer Kidd is $9.7 thousand over three decades, by using the so-called mini-midlevel exemption. They could pay him more through a sign-and-trade design with Facilities, an choice that was being researched Friday, according to a individual engaged in the shares.

Kidd had all but dedicated to the Mavericks and was ending in on a three-year, $9 thousand cope. But at 4:45 p.m., ESPN.com revealed that Kidd had modified his thoughts and was going to Madison Rectangle Lawn, where he will be a aspect of a populated marquee of celebrities.

Even as reviews distributed beginning in the day that Kidd was going returning to Facilities, a individual acquainted with his mind-set said that Kidd “so much desired to get to New York” and was clearly conflicted about his choice.

The Knicks snared Kidd just one day after dropping Nash — another elite-but-aging factor secure — to the Opposing group. The Knicks had been discussing with Arizona on a sign-and-trade cope for Nash, but Nash instead encouraged for a business to Los Angeles, to contend for tournament together with Kobe Dez bryant and Pau Gasol.

Before getting Kidd, the Knicks were considering an range of second-tier alternatives, such as Raymond Felton, who performed a half-season for them in 2010-11 before being exchanged to Colorado in the Anthony cope. Felton could still be an choice if the Knicks let Lin keep.

Derek Fisher had also been in shares with the Knicks, but he is now predicted to look elsewhere.

The Netting are now among the front-runners to indication Fisher, along with the Mavericks, the Chi town Bulls, the Cleveland Hardi and the Ok Town Miracle. Fisher, who won five headings with the Opposing group, registered up with the Miracle in Feb and was a key aspect of the spinning for Ok Town, which missing to the Las vegas Warm in the finals.

Five times into no cost organization, this is already forming up as the Summer season of the Point Guard. It started with Williams and Nash, two of the most popular in the marketplace. It ongoing with Kidd, Lowry, Dragic and Lin.

On Friday, Chauncey Billups decided to a new cope with the Los Angeles Trimmers, while Jameer Nelson achieved conditions to come returning to the Holiday Miracle. Two others have offers to stay put: Andre Burns with Colorado and Henry Mountain with In.

A several strong factor protects maintain the marketplace, such as Felton, Aaron Streams, Ramon Classes and Kirk Hinrich.

Nash Leads to Opposing group, Making Knicks in Lurch

Steve Nash flirted with New You are able to, believed Greater and thought a come back again to Facilities, in a enraged selecting interval that in danger to tip the stability of energy in one N.B.A. area or another. The response at last came Wed evening hours, just before the fireworks began to fly: Nash is going to Los Angeles, to be a part of Kobe Dez bryant and Pau Gasol, in a cope that should launch the Opposing group back again into name argument.

The State of phoenix ( az ) Team, despite some concerns about submitting their celebrity factor secure to a department competing, decided to a sign-and-trade cope. The accurate conditions of Nash’s contract were not instantly known. The Team will obtain two first-round choices (in 2013 and 2015) and two second-round choices (in 2013 and 2014), but no gamers. It is believed that they will obtain the so-called business exemption the Opposing group acquired in the Lamar Odom business last Dec.

The business was first revealed by KTAR in State of phoenix ( az ) and verified by The State of phoenix ( az ) Republic.

The cope results in the Knicks still looking for a expert side to secure their felony and to tutor Jeremy Lin, their ensuring 23-year-old factor secure. The Knicks were always a longshot to area Nash, because of salary-cap restrictions and a lack of easy to trade resources. Their only opportunity to was to obtain Nash via sign-and-trade. They created a difficult force, providing a business program designed around Iman Shumpert and a lot of slight gamers with expiring agreements. Although Nash, 38, has a home in the Western Small town and usually spends his summertime here, he eventually select the Opposing group, presumably to remain nearer to his household and to improve his possibilities at a name before he retires.

Losing Nash improves the stress on the Knicks to re-sign Lin, who was courted Wed by the Austin Rockets. The Rockets were predicted to provide Lin a backloaded contract that could be value more than $25 thousand over up to four conditions. The Knicks can go with any provide to Lin because he is a restricted no cost broker.

They are also expecting to area Jerr Kidd, although they are restricted to providing the $3.09 thousand exemption. Kidd could generate much more by remaining with the Mavericks, who may be inspired to pay him after dropping Deron Williams (to the Nets) and Nash on successive times.

The Raptors provided Nash a cope value a revealed $36 thousand over three decades. The Mavericks could have provided just as much. The Knicks would have compensated him about $25 thousand over three conditions in a sign-and-trade cope, though it would have price them Shumper, their best youthful probability and their best outside defensive player.

To create the cope perform under salary-cap guidelines and to provide Nash a beginning wage around $8.3 thousand, the Knicks would have sent State of phoenix ( az ) nearly every slight gamer available, such as Toney Douglas, Dan Gadzuric, Jerome The the air jordan and Josh Harrellson, as well as Shumpert. The Knicks missing Landry Areas as a prospective dealing processor when he achieved a handshake contract with the Raptors on a three-year, $20 thousand provide piece. The Knicks could have given Areas up to $5.3 thousand in a beginning wage in the sign-and-trade cope, enabling them to provide Nash a larger contract.

Fields averaged 9 factors and 4 gets back again a activity title last interval, statistics that dropped from his novice season.

Fields is predicted to sign Toronto’s provide piece once the N.B.A. moratorium is put on September 11. The Knicks will have three times to go with the provide — though they have not given any symptoms they will — but they cannot use Areas in a sign-and-trade cope once he symptoms it.

Acquiring a expert factor secure like Kidd gives Lin time to create. Lin became a feeling in Feb and had some amazing minutes, but he has began just 25 games in the group and continues to be an misguided investment over a complete interval. He averaged 15 factors and 6 helps in 35 games with the Knicks after they stated him off waivers from the Rockets.

The Knicks have created it obvious throughout the off-season that re-signing Lin was a top concern for two reasons: his enhanced perform and his extremely successful marketability in New You are able to.

On Wed beginning morning, the Knicks achieved an contract on an provide piece for a one-year cope with Wayne White-colored, who invested the last three decades enjoying offshore. White-colored, who was selected in the second circular in 2006, will create the group lowest of $854,000.

The deciding upon of White-colored was the Knicks’ first sign they are ready to begin changing their backcourt.

White, who is 6-foot-7, has unquestionably previous two conditions in the German Serie A group, the nation's maximum high end. He averaged 17 factors, 5 gets back again and 3 helps a activity title last interval for VL Pesaro. This will be his third stint in the N.B.A.

White, 29, said he organized to be a respected part gamer for the Knicks. “I’m not arriving in to be a guy who does not perform,” he said. “I think I have the capability to lead a lot and to create everyone around me better.”

Besides Lin and Areas, the Knicks are also still expecting to re-sign protects Bob Novak and J. R. Jackson. Novak maintained his beginning Fowl privileges the other day, which allows the Knicks to re-sign him for up to $5.3 thousand. Jackson dropped his choice with the group last 30 days, but he wishes to come back again for near to $3 thousand.

Rebounds

The Netting are transforming the contract of Mirza Teletovic to sustain cap versatility and to keep in existence their light desires of getting Dwight Howard. Teletovic decided in concept Wednesday to sign for the $5 thousand midlevel exemption. By guideline, a group using the midlevel must stick to a difficult cap of $74 thousand, which would almost remove the Nets’ possibility of obtaining Howard, and perhaps prevent them from re-signing Kris Humphries.At the Nets’ ask for, Teletovic and his broker came back again to the desk and were going toward a new contract for the “mini-midlevel” of $3.09 thousand. 

The unfortunate case of Dez Bryant and excessively droopy pants

Do you ever feel like you know just enough about to be dangerous? Let's see if we can fill in some of the gaps with the latest info from experts.

The information about presented here will do one of two things: either it will reinforce what you know about or it will teach you something new. Both are good outcomes.

Dez Bryant(notes) made headlines Tuesday night after police were called to intervene in a dispute over the fit of his pants, or, depending on who you believe, the fit of his friends' pants. Someone's pants were deemed too low by whoever is in charge of pants policy at the North Park mall in Dallas.

Here's the Dallas PD's side of the story:

Desmond Bryant(notes) was issued a criminal trespass warning by representatives of NorthPark Center when he began using profanity after he and his companions were requested to pull their pants up by Dallas Police officers working off-duty at the scene so as to not expose their underwear and buttocks to other patrons of the center. This action is not a violation of law and officers would have taken no official police action. Mr. Bryant's response to the request was profanity laced [as in, per the police report, "What the [expletive], you stopped me like I stole something!"], and center representatives felt the outburst merited a request for Mr. Bryant to leave the premises.

There's more here. And here's Bryant's side of the story, via Calvin Watkins at ESPNDallas.com:

Bryant, however, told ESPNDallas.com his pants were up but some of his friends' pants were down.

"It really wasn't me in the wrong," Bryant said Tuesday. "It's not even an issue." [...]

"I told the guy I'm not trying to get in trouble," Bryant said. "I'm not trying to destroy my image. The [warning] wasn't toward me. I was trying to figure out what was going on. It was a big misunderstanding. I was the wrong guy."

If Dez is telling the truth and the culprit was indeed someone else, I'd just like to warn the people of Dallas to stay vigilant. There's currently someone at large with his pants at an unacceptable level. I expect that the Dallas PD will begin its investigation by interviewing all local plumbers.

The day will come when you can use something you read about here to have a beneficial impact. Then you'll be glad you took the time to learn more about .

Looming NFL lockout nothing new to American pro sports

The NFL Players Association decertified its status as a labor union. The collective bargaining agreement expires seven hours later.

The NFL labor dispute is nothing new to American sports. Every major American professional sport has suffered labor disputes in the past 25 years. Here's a look at other work stoppages in pro sports. Major League Baseball Strike, 1994-95

Major League Baseball quit playing in August of 1994 in the middle of their season. The World Series wasn't played and the following season was shortened to 144 games. Players went back to work in mid-April 1995.

It was the first labor stoppage involving a canceled World Series. Since that time, Major League Baseball has expanded, attendance has reached record levels and players make more money than ever.

National Hockey League Lockout, 2004-05

The National Hockey League locked out players for nearly a full year starting in September 2004. Not a single game was played. As part of the new labor deal, players agreed to a salary cap but they also had access to a greater percentage of the league's profits. NFL Strike, 1987

The last NFL labor dispute was in 1987 and resulted in one week of games canceled and three weeks played with replacement players. The owners were well prepared—they already had replacement players ready to go after the games were canceled. The NFL is still the hottest professional team sports league in the United States. One of the most famous replacement players was Timmy Smith, who set a Super Bowl record for rushing yards for the Washington Redskins.

National Basketball Association Lockout, 1998-99

The NBA shortened its season to 50 games from 82 games as owners wanted to cap player salaries in 1998. It was the first time the NBA had lost games and revenue due to labor disputes. MLB Strike, 1981

Major League Baseball had a mid-season strike in 1981. Instead of canceling the post-season, this one lasted only 50 days from mid-June to late July. The strike was more about free agency than anything else—owners were worried free agents would demand more money. Free agency is alive and well today—contracts are getting richer and richer.
The current NFL labor dispute is currently in federal mediation as both sides are headed for a lockout.

California's Bunting, Oregon State's Gaviglio Named Pac-10 Baseball Players of the Week

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - CALIFORNIA junior center fielder Chad Bunting has been named Pac-10 Player of the Week and OREGON STATE junior right-handed pitcher Sam Gaviglio has been named Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week for Feb. 21-27, Commissioner Larry Scott announced today.

The Ukiah, Calif., native finished the Caravelle Resorts Tournament 7-for-12 (.583) with four runs and a double. Bunting helped the Golden Bears finish with a .355 team batting average and 0.33 ERA in the tournament.

This marks the first Pac-10 Player of the Week honor for Bunting and California’s 45th all-time Player of the Week selection.

Gaviglio allowed just two hits in the Beavers’ 2-0 shutout of No. 14 Connecticut at the Kleberg Bank Classic. No runner got past first base and Gaviglio faced 29 batters, just two over the minimum. Through two games this season, Gaviglio has worked 15 1/3 innings and allowed just two runs, both unearned. Also Nominated (Player): Robert Refsnyder, ARIZ; Zach Wilson, ASU; Aaron Jones, ORE; Parker Berberet, OSU; Beau Amaral, UCLA; Jason Monda, WSU

Also Nominated (Pitcher): Tyler Hale, ARIZ; Kramer Champlin, ASU; Kevin Miller, CAL; Christian Jones, ORE; Jordan Pries, STAN; Adam Plutko, UCLA; Adam Conley, WSU

2011 Pac-10 Players of the Week: Feb. 22 - Riccio Torrez, Jr., 3B, ASU; Mar. 1 - Chad Bunting, Jr., OF, CAL

2011 Pac-10 Pitchers of the Week: Feb. 22 - Madison Boer, Jr., RHP, ORE; Mar. 1 - Sam Gaviglio, Jr., RHP, OSU

John Daly's new golf bag has a television screen By Shane Bacon

The following article presents the very latest information on . If you have a particular interest in , then this informative article is required reading.



You may not consider everything you just read to be crucial information about . But don't be surprised if you find yourself recalling and using this very information in the next few days.

You ever spend four hours out on the golf course, wondering what the heck else is going on around the world? Well, spend more time with John Daly, because he could just flip on his TV screen on his golf bag and BOOM, you're informed.

Yep, Daly's new Big Red golf bag has a television screen and it fits snug atop the belly of the staff bag.

First thoughts -- man, I'd hate to be Daly's caddie. I've lifted those big bags for 72 holes, and the last thing those staff bags need is more weight. My second thought -- is there another golfer IN THE WORLD that would A.) put a television on his golf bag and B.) somehow pull it off? No, there isn't. He's the alpha and omega of this situation.

I have absolutely no idea what is going to scroll across this thing when he's playing, but the guy has more sponsors than Roy McAvoy, so I'd assume this thing is going to be busy (and hot).

Also, I'm clearly avoiding the "Caddyshack" reference, but Daly didn't in his tweet of the picture: "my new bag-built w/flat screen! Ads, videos & music! Rodney Dangerfield inspired me! Now working on his dance!"

Now you can understand why there's a growing interest in . When people start looking for more information about , you'll be in a position to meet their needs.

Preseason Ranks: Top 100

The following article presents the very latest information on . If you have a particular interest in , then this informative article is required reading.



You can see that there's practical value in learning more about . Can you think of ways to apply what's been covered so far?

Colorado breakout star Carlos Gonzalez finished the 2010 campaign as the No. 1 player in the Yahoo! fantasy baseball game. But as the door opens on a new season in 2011, CarGo doesn’t even warrant the first pick on his own team according to the subjective scrutiny of the Yahoo! fantasy brain trust (pictured below). As the saying goes, past performance does not guarantee future returns … although we’re still representing plenty of love for the Rockies outfielder.

The real object of our affection, though, is once again Albert Pujols, who rarely fails to deliver a top 10 roto return. He, despite one dissenting opinion, tops our debut list of the top 100 fantasy players for ’11. The list is ordered by the overall top 100 composite ranking of our four experts, with the remaining players that received votes rounding out the bottom of the list.

We’ll make sure to update this list periodically throughout the coming weeks as spring developments further shape the fantasy landscape. In the mean time, digest these rankings and then let us know what you think in the comments section below. Let the debate begin!

Sometimes it's tough to sort out all the details related to this subject, but I'm positive you'll have no trouble making sense of the information presented above.

Wake Forest Baseball Coach Donates Kidney To Player Suffering Rare Condition

Last Thursday night, Tom Walter got in his car and began a 300-mile drive from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to Atlanta. Wake Forest's baseball coach is well-acquainted with the rhythms of the road in general, and this stretch of highway in particular.

The road to Atlanta runs through small towns like Kings Mountain and Lavonia and Startex, towns where Walter and his coaches sift through the best local talent, looking for that one gem, that perfect fit. Kid gets a scholarship offer to play for a big-name school. Coach takes a liking to kid, treats him like family. Coach stands up for kid, gives kid a chance that no one else could or would. The kid in this story is a baseball player from Columbus, Georgia, named Kevin Jordan. Recruited by Walter and his assistants to play ball for the Demon Deacons, the rangy outfielder first visited Winston-Salem possessed of rare confidence for a prep athlete. Kevin Jordan has ANCA vasculitis, a disease in which his own white blood cells began attacking his own tissues. In August, right about the time he began attending classes at Wake, doctors determined that Jordan's kidney function was down to eight percent. A kidney donation requires a match, and no one in Jordan's family matched up. Jordan was looking at joining the national registry. The United Network for Organ Sharing indicates that in 2009, 16,829 kidney transplants were performed in the United States, but nearly 86,000 people await a kidney, with a median wait time of four years. The disease didn't wait, however, and it didn't respect Jordan's new surroundings. It was right around that time when Coach Walter decided he ought to get tested.

Coach learns he's a match and offers up his kidney for this kid he barely knows. People will hear of Tom Walter’s story, they’ll be amazed by it and him, and he’s cool with all that.

“There's not a kid on this
team, or a kid that I've ever coached, that I wouldn’t have done this for.”

As a coach, he set George Washington University’s record for wins with 275 against 124 losses. 2005. New Orleans. When Katrina hit, Walter gathered his team together and moved his base of operations 1,100 miles west, to Las Cruces, New Mexico. He struck a deal with New Mexico State University for his team to play in the fall semester there, and in the spring semester, the team lived out of hotel rooms in Mobile, Alabama.



That season, despite calling three different states home, the team won 30 games for the first time in a decade. A man stands by his team. Starting five days before Christmas, Walter underwent cross-match testing, chest x-rays, CT scans and blood pressure monitoring. He passed every test, and on January 28, doctors proclaimed him a match for kidney donation.
I would have been extremely disappointed for Kevin if I wasn't a match. Any time you’re talking organ transplant, you’re talking significant risk. Both Alonzo Mourning and Sean Elliott returned to play in the NBA after kidney transplants, so it’s possible Jordan could return to the diamond. For Walter, the prospects for recovery are more favorable. Monday morning, while everyone else in the sporting world was still debating Aaron Rodgers, tiny Vader and the Black Eyed Peas, Walter and Jordan went under the knife. Doctors took Walter into the operating room at 8:00 a.m, and Jordan followed 90 minutes later. The procedure began at 11:15, and 45 minutes later, Walter's role was done. By 4:00, Jordan was resting in his own room at Emory University Hospital.

North Dakota team's title run ended by a raccoon on a bus

The Carrington (N.D.) High wrestling team never got a shot to defend it's run of three consecutive Region 2 dual tournament titles, yet the reason they missed out had nothing to do with any ineligible player or poor results. Rather, the team was foiled by an uninvited visitor on their bus to the event: A wild raccoon.

According to the Grand Forks Herald and the Associated Press, among other outlets, Carrington was getting ready to compete at the duals championship when administrators discovered the team had been exposed to the animal on the ride from Carrington to Grafton, N.D., where the event was being held. No players were bitten or scratched by the animal, but it was unknown if the raccoon was rabid, meaning that officials couldn't ensure opposing wrestlers would be safe from risk if the event continued as scheduled.

"We (school administrators) found out as the tournament was going on that while our students were on the way to the event, they were exposed to a raccoon," Carrington school superintendent Brian Duchscherer told the Herald. While the incident certainly provides a new watershed moment for "strangest self-disqualification from a postseason tournament," it actually gets even stranger when details surrounding the encounter are explored. According to the Herald, the team's coaches learned that there was a raccoon on the bus when their athletes picked up the animal, believing it was dead.

The decision to pick up a dead wild animal is questionable enough, but what the team's coaches decided to do next is arguably more bizarre: Instead of immediately removing the animal from the bus, they decided to move it to rear storage area instead.

That's right, the Carrington wrestling team knowingly rolled along to the Region 2 duals championship in the full knowledge that they had a wild animal in the back of the bus, dead or alive. In fact, it was only when the team arrived in Grafton that they discovered the animal was quite alive, as it trotted off the bus calmly after the storage area was opened, eluding capture to prevent any rabies testing that would have possibly cleared the way for the team to compete.

Final score: Raccoon 1, Carrington Wrestling 0.
Instead, the entire team got back on the bus and headed back to Carrington, sans raccoon and sans region championship trophy. As a result, the Cardinals will enter 2011-12 looking to regain the Region 2 duals title rather than defend it, with North Boder-Cavalier now the standing champions after victory by forfeit on Saturday.

Pittsburgh steelworkers warned not to skip work for Super Bowl

Some Pittsburgh-area steelworkers are being warned that taking off to watch the Steelers in the Super Bowl could cause "severe disciplinary action."

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that U.S. Steel's Mon Valley Works has issued a notice to employees (below right) which states that missing work on Sunday or Monday without just cause will result in a Super Bowl-sized penalty.

Union officials responded to the news in a good-natured way. United Steel Workers International vice-president Tom Conway wrote an email that claimed the decision was only made because the employee relations manager hails from Philadelphia and, as such, has some sour grapes with Pittsburgh's presence in the game.

He suggests enlisting non-football fans to volunteer for the Super Bowl shift and to hold a postgame party for employees to watch the game on tape.

I'm sympathetic to both sides here. The owners have a business to run and can't shut down the largest manufacturing plant of its kind in the country for two days because of a football game and its aftereffects.

On the other hand, these employees are steelworkers who want to watch the Steelers game. These aren't folks working at a restaurant or a coal mine or in the emergency room potentially skipping out of work. They're Pittsburgh steelers who are trying to see the Pittsburgh Steelers game! Give the guys a break.

Planning ahead has its virtues.

Video: DeSean Jackson's emotional, surprise visit with bully victim

The 13-year-old boy who was bullied and beat up by a "wolf pack" of teenagers in Pennsylvania last month received a surprise visit from his favorite football player on live television.

Nadin Khoury was walking home from school on Jan. 11 when he was randomly accosted by seven teens who attacked him for 30 minutes. The incident was filmed by one of the assailants, which helped propel the sickening incident into the national spotlight.

On Thursday, a resilient Khoury appeared with his family on "The View" to discuss the incident and bullying in general. Near the end of the segment, he was surprised by Philadelphia Eagles players DeSean Jackson(notes), Todd Herremans and Jamaal Jackson(notes).

Jackson, the Eagles star receiver, is Khoury's favorite player. After coming out on set and hugging the middle school student, Jackson gave Khoury the jersey off his back (literally) and let him know that if he ever needed help, he and his two lineman had his back. Herremans later mentioned that the Eagles would give the family tickets to any Eagles game next season.

Hog roasted: Late interception seals Sugar Bowl victory for Ohio State

The more you understand about any subject, the more interesting it becomes. As you read this article you'll find that the subject of is certainly no exception.



Hopefully the information presented so far has been applicable. You might also want to consider the following:

Off-the-field distractions. A depleted secondary. No momentum.

Ohio State had its back against the wall, clinging to a late, fourth-quarter lead.

But the Buckeyes quieted the hog-heavy crowd and silenced critics, placing tattoo drama on the back burner and roasting the Arkansas Razorbacks, 31-26, in the Sugar Bowl on Tuesday night at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.

The win snaps OSU's string of struggles against the SEC. The Buckeyes had lost each of the first nine bowl games in which they faced an SEC opponent.

One of five Buckeyes facing a five-game suspension to start the 2011 season, defensive end Solomon Thomas made the play of his career, an interception with less than a minute remaining and Arkansas threatening to score a go-ahead touchdown.

OSU quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who was named the game's most outstanding player, threw for 221 yards and two touchdowns, nearly mirroring the marks he set last January when he took home Rose Bowl MVP honors. In that game — a 26-17 victory over Oregon — Pryor threw for 266 yards and two scores and rushed for 72 yards.

After trailing 28-7 in the first half, Arkansas clawed to within 31-23 with 12 minutes remaining. Razorbacks' punter Dylan Breeding pinned the Buckeyes at their own 4-yard line, and Arkansas' defensive line collectively brought down running back Dan Herron in the end zone for a safety.

The Razorbacks closed the gap to 31-26 on a 47-yard field goal by freshman kicker Zach Hocker on the ensuing possession.

They couldn't get over the hump, though.

Colton Miles-Nash blocked Ben Buchanan's punt, setting up Arkansas with great field position and a chance to win.

But Thomas stepped in front of a pass by Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett and the Buckeyes ran out the remainder of the clock.

Mallett, who transferred from Michigan after the 2007 season, feasted on a depleted Buckeye secondary in the second half.

Cornerback Chimdi Chekwa left the game in the first half after landing awkwardly on his right wrist after breaking up a pass. He returned to the sideline wearing a cast.

Christian Bryant, out since Oct. 16 with a foot infection, assumed some of Chekwa's duties.

The Buckeyes were already without safeties C.J. Barnett and Tyler Moeller, both sidelined for the majority of the season with injuries.

The NCAA suspended Pryor, Herron, receiver DeVier Posey, tackle Mike Adams and Thomas for five games after learning the players had violated NCAA rules by selling memorabilia to the owner of a Columbus tattoo parlor in 2009.

The NCAA concluded that the rules education provided by the OSU compliance department did not meet NCAA standards at the time the players sold the merchandise.

Therefore, following NCAA guidelines, the players were made eligible for the bowl game.

They didn't disappoint.

Herron rushed for 87 yards on 24 carries and scored a touchdown for the 12th consecutive game.

Posey hauled in a 43-yard score with 1:59 to play in the second quarter to give OSU its largest lead of the night, 28-7.

OSU racked up 338 yards in the first half, an average of 8.7 per play.

Knowing enough about to make solid, informed choices cuts down on the fear factor. If you apply what you've just learned about , you should have nothing to worry about.

Big Ten Goes Bowling: Ohio State vs. Arkansas

When you're learning about something new, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of relevant information available. This informative article should help you focus on the central points.



Those of you not familiar with the latest on now have at least a basic understanding. But there's more to come.

College football's swollen bowl season features eight Big Ten teams, but hopefully you have better things to do this final week of the year than stare vacantly at the TV for 25 or 30 anticlimactic hours. Let us help you decide which of those games might be worth your time.

After an 0-5 New Year's Day showing that's being called the worst day in Big Ten football history, the smorgasbord concludes tonight with Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl. Can the Buckeyes salvage some portion of the conference's wounded honor?

arkansas.gifThumbnail image for ohio state.gifSugar Bowl
Ohio State (11-1) vs. Arkansas (10-2)
Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans
7:30 p.m., ESPN

Watchability factor: Very High

Arkansas has one of the best, most balanced offenses in the nation, quarterbacked by Michigan transfer Ryan Mallett. The Buckeyes aren't the most exciting team in the nation, but they're always worth watching for sheer professionalism and a big-game vibe. Pregame storylines guaranteed to be bludgeoned into your brain include Ohio State's recent struggles in BCS bowl games, especially its 0-9 record against SEC teams, and the recent eligibility kerfuffle involving Terrelle Pryor and four teammates.

Knowing enough about to make solid, informed choices cuts down on the fear factor. If you apply what you've just learned about , you should have nothing to worry about.

Adrian Beltre, Texas Rangers reportedly are close to long-term deal | Baseball

Do you ever feel like you know just enough about to be dangerous? Let's see if we can fill in some of the gaps with the latest info from experts.



Is everything making sense so far? If not, I'm sure that with just a little more reading, all the facts will fall into place.

Ex-Mariner Beltre drove in 102 runs for Boston last year: All-Star third baseman Adrian Beltre and the American League champion Texas Rangers are nearing agreement on a contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The Dallas Morning News reported Beltre's contract "will be reported as a six-year deal worth $96 million, but the last year of the contract is voidable if Beltre doesn't reach certain plate-appearance thresholds ... The first five years of the deal will be worth $80 million."

Ex-Mariner Beltre, 31, played for the Boston Red Sox last season and hit .321 with 28 homers and drove in 102 runs. He is a two-time Gold Glove winner.

Beltre became a free agent after turning down a $10 million player option to stay with Boston.

Orioles, reliever Gregg reportedly agree on contract: The Baltimore Orioles reportedly have agreed to a $10 million, two-year contract with right-handed reliever Kevin Gregg, 32.

Gregg was 2-6 with a 3.51 earned-run average and 37 saves for Toronto last year.

Dotel to join Blue Jays: Reliever Octavio Dotel has agreed to a $3.5 million, one-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. Dotel, 37, was 3-4 with a 4.08 ERA last year for Pittsburgh, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado.

The Blue Jays gave a minor-league contract to Chad Cordero, 28, who was 0-1 with a 6.52 ERA for the Mariners last year.

Buckner to manage in Massachusetts: Former Boston first baseman Bill Buckner, 61, has agreed to become manager of the independent-league Rox of Brockton, Mass. He is perhaps best known for a 10th-inning error in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series that gave the eventual champion New York Mets a series-tying victory.

Knowing enough about to make solid, informed choices cuts down on the fear factor. If you apply what you've just learned about , you should have nothing to worry about.

Ashley Harlan: Who Is Big Ben's New Mystery Woman?

So what is really all about? The following report includes some fascinating information about --info you can use, not just the old stuff they used to tell you.



The best time to learn about is before you're in the thick of things. Wise readers will keep reading to earn some valuable experience while it's still free.

Ashley Harlan is rumored to be the new fiancee of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, however, there is yet to be a confirmation from Big Ben that he is engaged.

Roethlisberger didn't confirm or deny his rumored engagement when asked by a KDKA: ""Oh geez. Listen, there's always rumors out there about professional athletes, especially about me. You guys know that I am not going to talk about my own personal life, I don't do that. My one singular focus right now is on the playoffs, on football and trying to get to the Super Bowl. So, that's what my focus is right now."

But who exactly is this new mystery woman in Roethlisberger's life? What else do we know?

According to a report by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette: "The young woman is being named on blogs and Tweets, but Post-Gazette attempts to reach her have not yet succeeded.

"Information developed by the newspaper shows her as a graduate of Laurel High School, where she was a softball star, and a 2008 graduate of St. Francis University in Loretto, Cambria County, with a bachelor's degree in health science, and, a year later, a master's of physicians assistant."

That's how things stand right now. Keep in mind that any subject can change over time, so be sure you keep up with the latest news.

Video: Cushing gets called for penalty after fighting teammate

The last time the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans played, the biggest story of the game was the brawl between opponents Andre Johnson(notes) and Cortland Finnegan(notes), which resulted in $25,000 fines for both. The teams met again on Sunday and once again devolved into chaos when two players got into a shoving match on the field. The only difference was: this one was a skirmish between teammates.

It started out as a routine post-play tussle between Tennessee's Leroy Harris(notes) and Houston's Antonio Smith. Smith's teammate, Brian Cushing(notes), came running into the play to separate his teammate and, presumably, to halt any Johnson-Finnegan-esque fisticuffs that were about to ensue. Smith didn't like this and ended up shoving his own teammate:


Another Texan got involved and Cushing's helmet flew off, which is an automatic 15-yard penalty. That enabled Tennessee to move closer into field goal range and take a three-touchdown lead headed into halftime