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| Results for matches played in JEREZ+DE+LA+FRONTERA from (2006-01-01) |
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TORONTO (AP) Reggie Lambe scored in the 83rd minute and Toronto FC won its fourth straight Canadian Championship, beating the Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0 on Wednesday night.
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| Paris Saint-Germain moved level on points with Montpellier at the top of the French league after beating bitter rival Marseille 2-1 on Sunday. PSG, which hadn't won in three league games, took an early lead when winger Jeremy Menez curled the ball into the bottom corner after some poor defending from Marseille in its penalty area. | |
| Malaga midfielder Jeremy Toulalan has broken a bone in his left foot and will undergo surgery. The former Lyon player injured his foot during Malaga's 1-0 win over Levante on March 10. The 28-year-old Toulalan has been a starter for coach Manuel Pellegrini since joining the club in the offseason. Malaga is in fifth place in the Spanish league before its match at La Rosaleda stadium against Rayo... | |
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Houston Texans defensive end/outside linebacker Mario Williams is the rock star of this year's defensive free agent class, but that doesn't mean that there aren't many other intriguing options at all positions for teams feeling the need to improve their defenses beyond the draft. Here's our offensive free agency primer ; we now turn our attention to those players charged with the task of keeping the scores down
Defensive Ends
Williams will likely demand and receive a contract in line with what Julius Peppers got from the Chicago Bears in 2010: Six years and $84 million, with half of that figure guaranteed. He's the sure quarterback demolition machine in any 4-3 defense, and the fact that he was coming around at pass-rushing outside linebacker in Wade Phillips' 5-2 scheme before a season-ending injury in 2011 puts his value even higher.
One of the most interesting players in this FA class is end Red Bryant of the Seattle Seahawks. Originally drafted as a tackle. Bryant became a real game-changer when Pete Carroll moved him to five-tech end and let him blow up everyone else's running game. 3-4 teams looking for more run defense out of their ends, like the Packers and Steelers, will surely give Bryant a look.
Beyond that, look for John Abraham to get a lot of play as a rotational end in a 4-3, and Kendall Langford perhaps shopping his skills to teams missing out on Bryant but still in need of a hybrid player, Jaguars DE Jeremy Mincey is one of the most underrated players in this FA class; look for the smarter teams around the league to check him out. Add Chicago's Israel Idonije, Peppers' longtime bookend, to the underrated list. Mike Anderson proved that he could play in multiple fronts with the Pats in 2011, as did Andre Carter.
Defensive Tackles
A very interesting group here. With Sione Pouha's re-signing with the Jets, Miami's Paul Soliai is the best pure 3-4 nose tackle on the open market. At 6-fot-4 and 355 pounds, he can play in different spots inside, but Soliai's primary value is in soaking up blockers so that others can make plays. The Dolphins thought enough of Soliai to franchise him last year -- with their move to a predominant four-man front, some other team will benefit greatly from his abilities, even and especially when that team switches to nickel defenses and required their nose tackle to move around.
Brodrick Bunkley was a hidden factor on Denver's defense in 2011, but the few people who looked past Tim Tebow on the Denver roster knew his value. Bunkley can play a role as a light tackle in a 3-4, but his best role is as a space-eater in a 40 front. At 6-foot-5 and 275 pounds, Tennessee's Jason Jones could get looks at many positions -- straight end, straight tackle, or as a hybrid player capable of creating havoc all over the line. He's best-suited to a creative defensive coordinator with multiple fronts in his playbook.
Those looking for more defensive tackles might be interested in the possibility of three former Saints -- according to some reports, Shaun Rogers, Aubrayo Franklin, and Sedrick Ellis could all be up for grabs.
Linebackers
Stephen Tulloch is probably the most versatile and effective linebacker in this class, but Seattle's David Hawthorne should be an attractive option -- he's played very well at middle and strong-side linebacker, and as it's become on the defensive line, versatility is important at the linebacker position as well. Hawthorne is not a pass-rusher, per se -- more a savvy run-stopper who can spy gaps in certain packages.
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A few observations from a day spent in Angels territory ...
TEMPE, Ariz. — With all the questions he's already fielded and hundreds more to come, Chris Iannetta might be justified in asking the Los Angeles Angels for a raise.
Though Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson signed the high-profile deals for big dollars last winter, it was the new Halos catcher who was doing the most media work on Monday morning. Iannetta, who was acquired from Colorado in a trade at the end of November, welcomed wave after wave of reporters and never once did he turn anyone away.
Some of the questions Iannetta fielded were undoubtedly about his own quest to provide an offensive presence in the Angels. But many more were about the pitching staff he's lucky enough to inherit. Over the course of the season, he'll serve as a backstop for Jered Weaver, Dan Haren, C.J. Wilson and Ervin Santana, who arguably form the top rotation in the AL. | |
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The Dagger previews the South Region of the 2012 NCAA tournament. Read our previews of the East, Midwest and West.
Three who can carry their teams:
* Austin Rivers, G, Duke
* Royce White, F, Iowa State
* Jeremy Lamb, G, UConn
Most intriguing opening round matchup: No. 5 Wichita State vs. No. 12 VCU
The selection committee's irritating habit of pitting mid-majors against one-another in the opening weekend of the tournament prevented VCU and Wichita State from taking swings at high-major opponents. Nonetheless, this matchup between the Sweet 16-capable Rams and Shockers is still one of the opening day of the tournament's most intriguing games. Wichita State can be erratic on defense at times, but the combination of big man Garrett Stutz, sharp shooter Joe Ragland and slasher Toure Murray Shockers has made the Shockers both balanced and efficient on offense. VCU, on the other hand, can be spotty on offense after graduating four starters from last year's Final Four team, but it relies on the same "havoc" defense to create pressure and force turnovers.
Best potential round of 32 game: No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 9 UConn
Here's the problem with the potential matchup between last year's national champ and the favorite to win the title this season: There's a good chance it never happens. Iowa State's inside-outside duo of Royce White and Scott Christopherson is capable of toppling UConn in the round of 64, especially if the Cyclones slow the pace and get hot from behind the arc. If the Huskies do survive against Iowa State, then top-seeded Kentucky would have a round of 32 opponent who is one of the few teams in the field with comparable talent to the Wildcats. UConn underachieved in conference play to finish below .500, but there cannot be many No. 9 seeds with championship experience and two first-round picks in their starting lineup. | |
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A little over a month ago, a former D-Leaguer with a tireless work ethic, X-ray vision and Econ degree turned the collective sports world on its ear, creating a media frenzy that made Tebowmania seem like a passing fad.
Inserted into the starting lineup against crosstown rival New Jersey, the elevated benchwarmer seized the moment, totaling 25 points, five boards and seven assists running point for the New York Knicks.
Linsanity was born.
In the following days, sportswriters devoted more words to Jeremy Lin than Melville did Moby Dick. His rapid ascension was fresh, new and enrapturing, an inspirational underdog story indicative of the American dream.
With the NBA still buzzing about Lin, it's only appropriate his alma mater, Harvard, is following in the overnight sensation's footsteps.
Finally, the Winklevoss twins have something to be happy about. | |
| Well, NBC's erection has probably subsided.
After Sunday's Game of the Week between the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins was being talked up as the potential return of Sidney Crosby — analyst Jeremy Roenick said "it gives a jolt to not only the Penguins, but the fans in Pittsburgh, Boston, Toronto, everywhere" — the Penguins captain won't return this weekend.
Said Crosby to the media after today's practice, via Sam Kasan of the Penguins:
"No, I'm not playing," Crosby said. "The good thing is that we have a good chunk of practices next week so we'll see how that goes. Hopefully, it's soon."
Crosby, who has been out of the lineup since Dec. 6 with concussion-like symptoms and a neck injury, hasn't had any setbacks or symptoms since beginning contact and is pleased with his progress.
"I have to make sure that I'm ready and responsible out there," he said. "That being said, it always takes time. … I need to get to another level as far as the extent of the physicality out there. There's been nothing that's really alarming. I'm really happy with the way I've felt leading up to this point."
Crosby returned to full contact practice on Tuesday, and there was plenty of speculation that Sunday would be the "target" for his return. But after being cleared, Crosby made it clear that Sunday would be the "soonest" he could return, rather than the game in which he expected to be back.
The Penguins don't play again until Thursday night at the New York Rangers, a team that Coach Dan Bylsma believes they can catch with a healthy Crosby. | |
| The well-traveled midfielder returns to the MLS club that originally drafted him in 2004. | |
| Paris Saint-Germain returned to winning ways after three straight draws, beating Ajaccio 4-1 at home Sunday to move one point ahead of Montpellier at the top of the French league. Record signing Javier Pastore and winger Jeremy Menez gave PSG a 2-0 lead, but defender Yoann Poulard replied just before halftime to ensure a nervy finish at Parc des Princes. |
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