James was honored Sunday during a minor league game for his recent basketball accomplishments -- an MVP award, NBA title and the gold -- and for giving back to Akron, where his "Wheels For Education" initiative has provided inner-city kids with supplies, programs, mentors, and above all, hope.
"I was one of these kids," James said. "It means everything to me to be able to give back. I have a passion for it. I love seeing kids smile, and for them to have someone who can lead them. For me to be in this position and being able to help and give back, means a lot."
James received a warm ovation from the crowd of 3,843 -- more than double the average attendance -- when he walked onto the infield at Canal Park, home of the Double-A Akron Aeros, during the middle of the eighth inning escorted by Akron mayor Don Plusquellic.
As James reached the area in front of the pitcher's mound, infielders for the Reading Phillies lined up on the grass between first and second base and gawked at the superstar.
It was also going according to plan before a malfunctioning microphone caused several anxious and awkward moments.
Plusquellic's comments kept cutting out over the ballpark's speaker system, allowing two anti-James fans, one of them wearing a Cleveland Browns jersey, sitting a few rows behind Akron's dugout to shout "traitor" and other insults at James, who seemed unsure of what to do as the delay dragged on and stadium personnel scrambled to find a new microphone.
When it became apparent James would not be able to address the crowd, he posed for pictures and then left the field, slapping hands with a few Reading players who leaned over their dugout railing to greet the All-Star, who was mobbed by fans as he made his way up the aisle.
It was somewhat poetic, James going in one week from stepping onto a gold-medal podium with his teammates on the world's largest stage to a mix-up inside a minor league ballpark where he grew up and where Thursday's postgame entertainment will include midget wrestling.
James doesn't know if being a champion -- and the only player other than Michael Jordan to win an MVP, an NBA title and Olympic gold in the same year -- will change the way he's viewed. Since announcing his decision to leave Cleveland as a free agent two years ago, he has been cast as the villain, reviled outside South Florida perhaps more than any athlete in memory.
Some fans have moved on. Some can't. Some never will.
James once succumbed to the pressure produced by the constant condemnation. He's not bothered by it any longer.
Showing posts with label nash. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nash. Show all posts
new stinkin' post
20 Aug 2012
espn
Hernandez cruised through the first five innings with little trouble. The most concerning moment may have been Sam Fuld's deep fly ball to right center leading off the game that Eric Thames tracked down on the edge of the warning track. Longoria's line drive leading off the fifth eluded Hernandez's glove but was directly at second baseman Dustin Ackley.
Hernandez struck out the side in the sixth, retiring Rodriguez on a check swing to finish the inning and ending the frame having thrown just 69 pitches. Fuld tapped out to second to open the seventh and B.J. Upton grounded out to shortstop for the second out.
After Maddon's ejection, Joyce worked the count to 3-2, Hernandez's third three-ball count, and hit an inning-ending groundout.
Seattle didn't do much in the bottom of the seventh, but it was a long inning for Hernandez on the bench, extended even further by Ryan's nine-pitch at-bat that culminated in an inning-ending grounder.
The wait didn't hamper Hernandez, who struck out Longoria on a biting breaking ball to start the eighth. With chants of "Let's Go Felix!" from the crowd, Hernandez struck out Zobrist. The chant grew in volume as Hernandez got ahead 1-2 to Pena and he finished off his second inning striking of striking out the side with a punchout of Pena.
It was the fifth time this season Hernandez has struck out 10 or more. Most of his outs were on the infield with only five fly ball outs.
"You could throw any lineup out there today and it's close to the same result," Jaso said.
Seattle's only run came thanks to the aggressive baserunning of Ryan. He led off the third with his first hit in 10 at-bats against Jeremy Hellickson (7-8) with a sharp single to left. He was still standing at first with two outs when he got a great jump on a curveball that bounced in the dirt and escaped Lobaton. Ryan never hesitated at second and made it all the way to third. He then jogged home when Jesus Montero followed with a single to left for the only run.
Hernandez struck out the side in the sixth, retiring Rodriguez on a check swing to finish the inning and ending the frame having thrown just 69 pitches. Fuld tapped out to second to open the seventh and B.J. Upton grounded out to shortstop for the second out.
After Maddon's ejection, Joyce worked the count to 3-2, Hernandez's third three-ball count, and hit an inning-ending groundout.
Seattle didn't do much in the bottom of the seventh, but it was a long inning for Hernandez on the bench, extended even further by Ryan's nine-pitch at-bat that culminated in an inning-ending grounder.
The wait didn't hamper Hernandez, who struck out Longoria on a biting breaking ball to start the eighth. With chants of "Let's Go Felix!" from the crowd, Hernandez struck out Zobrist. The chant grew in volume as Hernandez got ahead 1-2 to Pena and he finished off his second inning striking of striking out the side with a punchout of Pena.
It was the fifth time this season Hernandez has struck out 10 or more. Most of his outs were on the infield with only five fly ball outs.
"You could throw any lineup out there today and it's close to the same result," Jaso said.
Seattle's only run came thanks to the aggressive baserunning of Ryan. He led off the third with his first hit in 10 at-bats against Jeremy Hellickson (7-8) with a sharp single to left. He was still standing at first with two outs when he got a great jump on a curveball that bounced in the dirt and escaped Lobaton. Ryan never hesitated at second and made it all the way to third. He then jogged home when Jesus Montero followed with a single to left for the only run.
the steve nash post
Brisbane Angels Group provides the vehicle to allow member investors to collaborate, co-invest, share risk, increase portfolio diversification, networking and peer validation of early stage deals and increasing both quantity and quality of deal flow.
The moving parts of the four-team discussion, according to Yahoo!, would involve both Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol being dealt by the Lakers
According to the web site's sources, Howard and Nuggets forward Al Harrington would go to the Lakers, 76ers guard Andre Iguodala would be moved to Denver, Bynum would be dealt to Philadelphia, and Gasol and Nuggtes guard Arron Affalo would go to Orlando.
The proposed scenario also includes the Magic receiving draft picks and salary-cap relief, the sources told Yahoo!.
Near the end of July, Howard met with Magic general manager Rob Hennigan and reiterated that he still wants to be traded and, if he isn't, will leave the team as a free agent after next season.
The Lakers' position on Howard has remained relatively unchanged for the past few months, league sources familiar with the situation have told ESPNLosAngeles.com. The Lakers always have been willing to trade for Howard without assurances he'd re-sign with them after the season, believing that once Howard experienced a championship culture, he would want to stay.
What goes up must come down and when it does that's the end of that so let's not let it come down and everything okay?
The acquisition of Lopez fills a need at center for the Hornets, who traded away Emeka Okafor and let Chris Kaman go in free agency.
While the Hornets were able to draft 6-foot-11 Kentucky star Anthony Davis first overall in last month's draft, Davis is expected to play often at power forward because his slender build could leave him at a defensive disadvantage in one-on-one matchups against some of the league's more powerful centers such as Dwight Howard or Andrew Bynum.
The Hornets also have 7-footer Jason Smith on the roster, and while he has filled in at center well when called upon, he has been primarily a reserve power forward during his career.
New Orleans now has made two trades to acquire new front-court players, having also dealt forward Gustavo Ayon to Orlando for 6-foot-10 sharpshooter Ryan Anderson, a perimeter threat who can space out an opposing defense.
Lopez was drafted 15th overall by the Suns in 2008. Before that, he starred at Stanford with his twin brother, Brook, now a starter with Brooklyn Nets.
Why hello there this is just, you know, such an amazing experience and I am truly honoured to be here!
Warrick, a former Syracuse standout now entering his eighth season, started periodically in Memphis early in his career, but played a reserve role the past two seasons in Phoenix. For his career, he has averaged 9.5 points and 4.1 rebounds in 20.4 minutes.
felix el felixo
With one out to go, Sean Rodriguez got ahead 2-0 in the count.
"I don't have any words to explain this," Hernandez said to the crowd, speaking on the field after the final out. "I've been working so hard to throw one and today is for you guys."
Desmond Jennings pinch hit for Jose Lobaton to open the ninth. Hernandez got ahead 1-2 before Jennings fouled off two straight and Hernandez fanned him on a 92 mph fastball down in the zone. Jeff Keppinger batted for Elliot Johnson and grounded out to shortstop on a 1-2 pitch.
With one out to go, Sean Rodriguez got ahead 2-0 in the count. After circling the mound, Hernandez came back with two straight breaking balls for strikes and ended perfection with a called third strike on his 113th pitch.
"I went 2-0 and I just took a little walk, took a break and he called a slider. I had been following him the whole game, so I threw a slider and he swing," Hernandez said. "It was a good thing I followed this guy."
Hernandez (11-5) threw his arms up to the sky and was mobbed by teammates at the pitcher's mound. He embraced catcher John Jaso for a few seconds and then shared hugs with the rest of his teammates.
"It was in my mind, the whole game, it was in my mind," Hernandez said.
Hernandez likes to wear his hat crooked to the side -- many of his pitches weren't very straight, either.
The 26-year-old Venezuelan right-hander had the Rays swinging over his sharp curve all afternoon, with Evan Longoria, Ben Zobrist and Carlos Pena each striking out in the eighth chasing breaking balls.
With a fastball in the mid-90s mph and an effective change, Hernandez simply wasn't hittable. He also wasn't about to walk anyone, and got the final out after starting off Rodriguez with two balls.
Horsey Post
INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol came out on the losing end by a nose at the racetrack.
The gelding part-owned by the Los Angeles Lakers stars was beaten by that margin in the first race Sunday at Betfair Hollywood Park.
Siempre Mio took the lead under Joy Scott and maintained it into the stretch, then fought back when challenged by Valkyrie Missile only to lose a photo finish to the 3-5 favorite in the $12,500 claiming race at six furlongs.
Siempre Mio was racing for the first and last time in bright gold silks that featured a Lakers emblem and purple cap for Scott.
The gelding, which has two wins in six career starts, was claimed after the race by Donkey Island Racing, a partnership that includes New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees. There were five other claims put in for the horse, too.
Bryant and Gasol had purchased an interest in the horse at a Lakers charity auction in April. Siempre Mio is trained by Doug O'Neill, who oversaw I'll Have Another to recent victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.
The gelding part-owned by the Los Angeles Lakers stars was beaten by that margin in the first race Sunday at Betfair Hollywood Park.
Siempre Mio took the lead under Joy Scott and maintained it into the stretch, then fought back when challenged by Valkyrie Missile only to lose a photo finish to the 3-5 favorite in the $12,500 claiming race at six furlongs.
Siempre Mio was racing for the first and last time in bright gold silks that featured a Lakers emblem and purple cap for Scott.
The gelding, which has two wins in six career starts, was claimed after the race by Donkey Island Racing, a partnership that includes New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees. There were five other claims put in for the horse, too.
Bryant and Gasol had purchased an interest in the horse at a Lakers charity auction in April. Siempre Mio is trained by Doug O'Neill, who oversaw I'll Have Another to recent victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.
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