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Bristol followed up three wins out of their last four Guinness Premiership outings with their best performance of the season to beat the Llanelli Scarlets in their opening EDF Energy Cup game at the Memorial Stadium.

The home side made eight changes from the side that beat Leeds last weekend in the Premiership and included England World Cup scrum-half Shaun Perry in his first game for his club this season. Scarlets made six changes, with Irish international flanker Simon Easterby back to lead the side having also returned from World Cup duty. The Magners League side, losing finalists in this competition two seasons ago, included young fly-half Rhys Priestland, who kept his place in front of Welsh international half-back Stephen Jones.

It was Priestland who put the visitors in the lead after just five minutes with a 40- metre penalty, but Bristol were quickly back on level terms through fly-half David Hill.

The Scarlets looked set to score a try in the right corner through second row Vernon Cooper but, after consulting with the television video match official, referee Tim Hayes ruled he had put a foot in touch after a Perry tackle. The referee was quick to exert his control of the game, punishing any dissent after his decisions. He marched Bristol back 10 metres into their own half, but Scarlets could not take advantage.

Perry gave an awkward pass to wing Lee Robinson, who juggled the ball before embarking on a swerving run for the line but full-back Morgan Stoddart dragged him into touch just short. Robinson was rewarded for efforts minutes later from a move started from a scrum in front of the posts. The ball was worked out for him to step inside to score.

Bristol increased their lead on the half hour after opting for a series of scrums close to the line when awarded penalties. Finally they set up a driving maul with No 8 Andrew Blowers getting the touchdown to which Hill to added the extras.

Jones, on as a half-time replacement for Priestland, and Hill exchanged penalties in the opening five minutes of the second half.

With 15 minutes to play Bristol were reduced to 14 men with centre Neil Brew sent to the sin bin for an infringement at the tackle, but the Scarlets, despite being camped in the Bristol 22, failed to capitalise on the extra man.

On the stroke of full-time Stoddart, taking a flicked pass from centre Regan King, crashed over the line for the Scarlets’ only try, but it was nothing but a consolation score.

Bristol: Tries Robinson, Blowers; Conversion Hill; Penalties Hill 2. Llanelli Scarlets: Try Stoddart; Penalties Priestland, Jones

Bristol: Arscott; Robinson, Brew, Higgitt, Morgan; Hill, Perry; Clarke (Hagan, 66), Blaney (Linklater, 59), Crompton; Llewellyn, Hohneck; Budgett, El Abd (capt), Blowers.

Llanelli Scarlets: Stoddart; M Jones, King, G Evans, Watkins (James, 40); Priestland (S Jones, 40), Peel; John (Douglas, 51), Hayter (Rees, 40), Manu, Cooper, Eustace (MacLeod, 51), Easterby (capt), Edwards (Popham, 51), D Jones.

Referee: T Hayes (WRU)

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Source: Bristol 18 Llanelli scarlets 11: Blowers crowns in-form Bristol’s storming start

INDIANAPOLIS — Want to win an Indianapolis Colts Super Bowl ring? Here’s your chance.

During a pep rally for Sunday’s game against New England, Colts owner Jim Irsay wore a giant blue top hat, large round blue sunglasses and a white showman’s suit as he told hundreds of fans about the “Quest for the Ring” raffle.

“I look like Willie Wonka Elton, a combination of Willie Wonka and Elton John,” Irsay joked before throwing open a gold treasure chest containing a small box with five shiny rings.

Although some fans clearly hoped Irsay would toss the rings into the crowd, he explained the rings would be given away in a raffle he hopes will raise up to $1 million for Indiana charities.

Raffle tickets cost $5 each and will be sold through Nov. 20 for the three-stage contest.

Twenty-five finalists will first be chosen from up to 200,000 tickets the team hopes to sell. Ten finalists will then be chosen to move onto the contest’s final stage during a Nov. 30-Dec. 1 treasure hunt for Colts-related items hidden around Indianapolis.

Those finalists will gather on the RCA Dome field at halftime of the Colts’ Dec. 2 game against Jacksonville and select one locked box and key. Five of those boxes will contain a Super Bowl ring.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

Source: Colts raffling off five Super Bowl rings for charity

Sangakkara received attention in Adelaide from the team physio

Kumar Sangakkara is battling for fitness ahead of Sri Lanka’s first Test against Australia in Brisbane on 8 November after injuring his hamstring.

The wicket-keeper, also one of the team’s best batsmen, suffered a minor hamstring tear during the Adelaide tour match, which finished in a draw.

He will now sit out the final warm-up match, against Queensland from Friday.

Coach Trevor Bayliss said: “Kumar’s still struggling a bit, he definitely won’t be playing against Queensland.”

Bayliss remained hopeful Sangakkara, one of his star players, would be available for the first Test.

If not, the inexperienced Prasanna Jayawardene would be forced to step in and the team’s balance would also be affected.

Meanwhile, star bowler Muttiah Muralitharan is expected to be rested for the match against Queensland.

Nine wickets away from outstripping Shane Warne’s Test record of 708, Murali proved his fitness from a biceps injury with 4-122 off 44 overs in the previous match.

Fears have been voiced he could receive unsportsmanlike treatment in Australia, where he has been called for “throwing” on two previous tours and subjected to constant crowd calls of “no ball”.

Source: Sangakkara injury doubt for Test

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Its been a long anticipated moment; in fact it was arguably the first game that was circled by Wild fans when the team released the 2007-08 schedule.  This event that was circled on the calendar was the first time Sidney Crosby, a kid who’s fantastic hockey journey brought him to Minnesota to play high school hockey at NHL’er factory Shattuck-St.Mary’s in Faribault, Minnesota in his first appearance in front of what promises to be a packed Xcel Energy Centre.  The fact there has been as much “buzz” surrounding this game, demonstrates just how big this young player’s star has become in such a short time.  Yet, somewhere in all this media buzz, a hockey game is going to be played.  A game that both teams you could say, ‘need’ to win.  The Pittsburgh Penguins have gotten off to a sputtering start so far, and the Wild started out hot but have cooled off as the team has bit hit rather hard by injuries to key performers Marian Gaborik, Pavol Demitra and Niklas Backstrom.  The game, is one of contrasts; Minnesota the leagues stingiest defense against the offensively gifted Penguins.  You could almost say it was shaping up to be a battle of the immovable object versus the unstoppable force?  Who was going to come out on top?  It should be a very interesting game, and one Wild fans are sure to remember no matter the outcome.

The first period had the Wild again setting the tone with tremendous intensity that seemed to catch the Penguins by surprise.  In fact, it looked like a showcase for Minnesota’s Mikko Koivu who was causing Pittsburgh fits at both ends, playing aggressively and physically, using his 6′2″ 205lbs frame to create prime scoring chances on Dany Sabourin who got the start over Marc-Andre Fleury.  Even though Sabourin has just 19 NHL games of experience he was steady and fairly poised and was able to come up with the big saves early.  In a somewhat controversial call, Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin, who is known to throw a cheap shot every now and then (just watch some of Malkin’s antics at the WJC’s a few years ago if you don’t believe me) gave an elbow to Minnesota’s Nick Schultz, not happy with the elbow Schultz gave the speedy Russian a shove and in fitting fashion they both earned roughing minors.  The State of Hockey was also getting some great, and very physical shifts from youngster Cal Clutterbuck who had some great hits that resulted in Penguins players being knocked onto their backsides.  The Penguins could only generate just 6 shots on Josh Harding, and he had no problems with any of them and the Wild seemed to be in good shape going into the 2nd knotted at 0-0.

In the 2nd period, things were much different and the adjustments Penguins Head Coach Michel Therrien made were rather effective and Pittsburgh went from looking lost in the first to a team that seemed to be in control in the 2nd.  One of those ‘adjustments’ was taking the puck down low below the goal-line, and Minnesota’s defense had great difficulty defending it.  This down-low attack would yield quick results when Crosby would slide a pass to Evgeni Malkin who drove to the net and was able to jam a puck in near the right post to put Pittsburgh up 1-0.  The goal was a bit ’soft’ by Josh Harding’s standards thus far, but it still doesn’t forgive the defense for not preventing Malkin from being able to drive to the net in the first place.  Minnesota would answer fairly soon after Malkin’s goal when Mikko Koivu forwarded a pass up to Branko Radivojevic tee’d up a blast that struck the pipe and went out and right onto the stick of Stephane Veilleux who fired it home before Sabourin could reset himself to make the stop to equalize the game at 1-1.  The feeling of relief would not even last 30 seconds as the Penguins again took the lead on a sort of bang-bang play when Sidney Crosby fired a shot that Harding stopped with his leg pad but the rebound went right onto the stick of Malkin who roofed a quick snap shot over a sprawling Wild netminder, Malkin’s 2nd goal of the night 2-1 Pittsburgh.  The  goal seemed to devastate the Wild, and Josh Harding was looking like a goaltender playing in his first full NHL season.  Minnesota would literally have insult added to injury when stalwart defenseman Kim Johnsson suffered a leg injury, later determined to be a leg bruise and he would not return for the rest of the game which thinned the blueline considerably.  One player who almost connected for a goal in the 2nd, was the “Boogeyman” Derek Boogaard just missed on a great pass by James Sheppard who had a solid game tonight (more on that a bit later) but unfortunately for Minnesota they’d skate into the 3rd trailing 2-1.

In the 3rd period, some of Minnesota’s youngsters decided to demonstrate what they could do to get their team fired up.  Early in the period, Cal Clutterbuck would deliver another big hit that sent Colby Armstrong to the ice.  Another Wild youngster James Sheppard decided to take things a step further when he decided to drop the gloves with former Wild forward Adam Hall.  It was not a free swinging contest between two heavyweights, and after exchanging a few jabs neither was really able to gain an advantage and the two would just hold on until the officials moved into skate each player to their respective penalty box.  The fight seemed to give the Wild the motivation boost it needed as they would re-establish the forecheck, and with Mikko Koivu working the puck down low he would push the puck near the top of the crease where Brian Rolston was able to shovel the puck by Sabourin to tie the game 2-2.  With the sold out crowd back into the game the Wild seemed poised to pull off another big 3rd period comeback.  Maxime Talbot had a good shift where he skated towards Harding, and Brent Burns sprawled over towards him ruining Talbot’s angle but in doing so he tripped up the Pittsburgh forward earning him a minor penalty.  Minnesota’s penalty kill, now depleted because of Johnsson’s injury had the daunting task of keeping the Penguins from scoring.  Sidney Crosby managed to draw the defense down low and he threaded a beautiful pass to a wide open crashing Sergei Gonchar who unloaded a blast on the Wild net but Harding was up to the task to stonewall him.  Yet, Crosby and the Penguins still had plenty of power play time left, and Crosby would this time find Petr Sykora open in the slot and he would set up and unleash a wrister that found the twine behind Josh Harding to give Pittsburgh a 3-2 lead.  The goal seemed to have a finality to it, as if that was all that the Penguins were going to need.  Minnesota tried in vain to rally again for a last chance at tying the game but Pittsburgh put 5 guys on the blueline and frustrated Minnesota’s attempts to establish a forecheck.  The nail in the coffin was delivered when Brent Burns’ attempt at a wrister from the point was blocked and then passed up to Sidney Crosby who managed to sneak by Martin Skoula who tried to chase after the speedster from Nova Scotia who moved in all alone on Harding and beat him 5-hole on the backhand to seal a 4-2 win for the Penguins.

Sidney Crosby was everything he has been billed to be, having a huge 4-point night that just was too much for the depleted Wild to counter.  It was a fairly good effort by the Wild, but without the top line of Demitra and Gaborik forcing Penguins Head Coach Michel Therrien to make a tough decision.  Without that line, his choice is easy; dedicate his best checkers to go against Minnesota’s default top line of Brian Rolston, Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Eric Belanger and fore the Wild to come up with offense from its other lines.  Tonight, its 3rd line managed to chip in a goal, but the team could not get the goal to get them over the top so it could then establish its strangling defensive system.

Yet, there were some choices that Wild Head Coach Jacques Lemaire made that are rather baffling.  Why did he opt to put Petteri Nummelin on the key penalty kill when the game was tied at 2-2?  Nummelin has been a rather suspect defender ever since he joined the Wild, yet he put him on the ice against one of the more potent power plays in the league?  Why was Keith Carney scratched yet again?  Wouldn’t his experience been a valuable commodity to have.  I know Jacques Lemaire didn’t have the benefit of hindsight to know that Kim Johnsson was going to go down with an injury, but whenever you go against a skilled offensive team wouldn’t that prompt you to go with your best defensive-defenseman?

Apart from the excellent play of Mikko Koivu, who has arguably been one of the Wild’s most consistent forwards all season long, despite not getting rewarded as much in the scoring department; was its two youngsters James Sheppard and Cal Clutterbuck.  Sheppard has made huge strides, and tonight’s fight as well as some good hits are proof of that.  The same can be said for Clutterbuck who has had two solid games where he’s managed to get involved physically, and positionally he seems to be a natural.  The Wild need a victory soon, losing 4-straight has allowed the Calgary Flames (the Flames won 4-1 tonight by the way) to close the gap.  Hopefully they can get a few of those injured players back for Thursday’s game against a very solid St. Louis Blues team.
Wild Notes:

~ Wild roster tonight was as follows: Brian Rolston, Mark Parrish, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Eric Belanger, Mikko Koivu, Branko Radivojevic, Wes Walz, Matt Foy, Derek Booogaard, James Sheppard, Cal Clutterbuck, Martin Skoula, Kim Johnsson, Nick Schultz, Brent Burns, Petteri Nummelin, Kurtis Foster, and Nolan Schaefer backed up Josh Harding.  Dominic Moore, Marian Gaborik, Pavol Demitra, and Niklas Backstrom are out of the lineup nursing injuries.

~ The 3 Stars of the Game according to Let’s Play Hockey were: 1st Star Sidney Crosby, 2nd Star Mikko Koivu, 3rd Star Evgeni Malkin

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 30th, 2007 at 10:36 pm and is filed under 2007-08 Game Reports & Previews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Source: Sidney Crosby provides memorable 4-point night, as Penguins overpower Wild 4-2

The Bucknell wrestling squad, in preparation for the upcoming 2007-08 schedule, held wrestle-offs in Davis Gym on Tuesday evening where 20 of the team’s 25 student-athletes were in action in intrasquad matchups.

The evening began with the 125-pound bout between freshmen José Matos (Williamstown, N.J./St. Augustine Prep) and Kevin Carrillo (Belen, N.M./Belen). After a scoreless opening period, Matos went ahead, 6-1, in the second with an escape, a takedown and a near fall. That would be all he would need as an escape by Carrillo in the third brought the final score to 6-2, in favor of Matos.

At 133 pounds, sophomores David Marble (Harpursville, N.Y./Harpursville Central) and Greg Hart (Bedminster, N.J./Bernards) squared off. Hart, who was wrestling up from his usual weight, fell behind, 2-1, after the first period. In the second, Marble added to his lead with an escape and a takedown and followed up with another takedown in the third along with the riding time point, giving Marble the 8-2 decision.

In the 141-pound bout, sophomore Luke Chohany (Duncannon, Pa./Susquenita) took on freshman Eric Harris (Green River, Wyo./Green River). With a pair of takedowns in the opening period, Chohany led, 4-1, after one. Harris responded with five points on a reversal and a near fall to pull ahead, 6-4, but Chohany scored a reversal to knot things up at six heading into the third. In the final frame, Chohany struck first with a reversal to take a two-point lead. However, Harris fought back with an escape and a takedown to edge Chohany, 8-9, in the final score.

After just two points were tallied over the first two periods of the contest between 149-pounders freshmen Kevin LeValley (Hugo, Colo./Limon) and Tyler Riccio (Warren, N.J./Bridgewater, Raritan Regional), LeValley racked up seven points in the third period to help him capture a 9-2 victory.

At 157, sophomore Brantley Hooks (Spartansburg, S.C./James F.Byrnes) went up against freshman Chris Bailes (Middletown, Pa./Middletown Area). Hooks went ahead, 2-0, on a takedown in the second and increased his lead to 3-0, before Bailes went on to record a takedown in the 3-2 decision, which was in favor of Hooks.

Andy Rendos (Brockway, Pa./Brockway Area) took advantage of a mismatch as the 165-pounder wrestled 157-pounder, freshman Scott Sechler (Slatington, Pa./Northern Lehigh) and logged a 15-2 major decision after opening up to a 10-0 lead in the first period.

The 174-pound bout was a low-scoring affair between sophomore Shane Riccio (Warren, N.J./Watchung Hills) and freshman Rob Waltko (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny). Riccio was awarded the first point of the contest in the second period following a second caution to Waltko. Riccio then logged another point on an escape in the third period and took the match, 2-1.

At 184, freshman David Thompson (West Liberty, Ohio/Graham Local) went up against classmate Charlie Wonsettler (Scenery Hill, Pa./Bentworth) and registered an 11-4 decision. Thompson posted four takedowns a two-point near fall and an escape in the bout, while holding Wonsettler to four on a reversal and two escapes.

In the next bout, 197-pound sophomore Sean LoCurto (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) took on 184-pound freshman Jay Hahn (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley). LoCurto began with a 2-1 edge in the first after logging a takedown, while Hahn scored on an escape. Another escape in the second period by Hahn tied the score at two, but LoCurto answered with a second takedown and tacked on an additional point with an escape in the third to pick up the 5-3 victory.

Sophomore George Hingson (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) and freshman William McCormick (Waukesha, Wis./Heritage Christian) closed out the evening in the heavyweight matchup, which Hingson won by the score of 8-4, on two takedowns, an escape and the riding time point.

The Bison will open the 2007-08 season on Nov. 17, when the squad will travel to Annapolis, Md., for the Navy Classic.

Source: Bucknell Wrestling Sees First Action of the Season at Wrestle-Offs

Emily Chiodo’s final-round 78 elevated her into a top-25 finish, and the Bucknell women’s golf team held off Richmond and Xavier on Monday to finish 13th at the Ross Resorts Invitational at Mid Pines Resort.

The Bison capped the 54-hole event with a final-round team score of 327, and their overall total of 978 left them only five shots out of the top 10 in a competitive field.

Chiodo (Strasburg, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg), who shot 81-79 on Monday, finished in a tie for 23rd place at 238, tops among the Bison contingent.

Freshman Katie Jurenovich (Warren, Ohio/Howland) had a consistent tournament, shooting 82-80-81 to finish in a tie for 41st. Also for the Bison on Monday, Amy Loughney (Macungie, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) carded an 80, and Kathryn Batchelor (Lawrenceville, N.J./Princeton Country Day) shot 88.

Host Rollins, led by medalist Joanna Coe, defended its title with a 54-hole total of 916. Augusta State was eight shots back at 924, followed by Cincinnati (934), Nova Southeastern (943), James Madison (951), Elon (961), Yale (961), Illinois State (963), William & Mary (966), Marshall (973), Western Michigan (975), Methodist (976), Bucknell (978), Richmond (982) and Xavier (985).

Coe shot 75-76-73 to come from behind and defeat Emilie Guery of Methodist by one stroke.

Bucknell finishes up its fall season in California on Nov. 4-6 at the Firestone Grill Invitational at Cypress Ridge.

Source: Bucknell Women’s Golf 13th at Ross Resorts Invitational

By: Abir Roychowdhury

Exploring the world under the sea is always fascinating. But to move freely underwater is not so easy as to move on the land. To be alive under water one has to carry a tank full of oxygen as breathing is not possible under water for human being. Beside that the tremendous pressure and different temperature of the water in deeper are much more different from the land.

For Scuba (Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) diving the divers, boaters, sailors, swimmers, Water Adventurers, surface-water sports persons often use these things besides the full tank of oxygen:

1. MASK
2. FINS
3. SNORKLE
4. DRY SUIT and so many things.

Maintaining body temperature is one of the biggest problems for the divers. Dry suit is a kind of apparel, which gives the wearer protection from the water to his skin. Dry suits are used to prevent the water entering. Drysuits are used where the temperature of the water is between –20c to 150c.

There are three types of dry suits:

1. Membrane dry suits
2. Neoprene dry suits
3. Hybrid dry suits

1. Membrane drysuits - are mainly built of thin materials of vulcanized rubber or a compound of nylon and butyl rubber. These types of dry suits do not give any real thermal protection in colder water. And these dry suits do not stretch, and needed to be oversized to the joints to give the wearer flexibility at the time of movements. Sailors and boaters who are likely to be out of water prefer these membrane dry suits. Membrane dry suits are easy to wear and put off. Membrane drysuits are mostly used in the spring.

2. Neoprene drysuits - offer the thermal protection in the colder water, keep the buoyancy. Neoprene is thermal insulating material, made of heavy-duty fabric and that fabric is coated with rubber or Polyvinyl chloride better known as venyl. The neoprene dry suits are considered better in comparison to membrane dry suits. Neoprene has some better properties, which make this more useful, chemical-resistant, more stretchable buoyant and waterproof. Neoprene drysuits give greater thermal protection even if there is a leak. Neoprene drysuits are mostly used for water surface sports and in the cold water.

3. Hybrid drysuits - are made by the combination of the membrane material and neoprene material. In hybrid dry suits, the upper part of the suits is made of membrane material and the lower part starting from the waist is made of Neoprene materials. So that the tight fitting lower part of the dry suits gives the comfort to the wearers to kick the water to move a distance when they are swimming. And the loose upper part of the dry suits lets the wearer to free movement of their arms. Hybrid drysuits are mostly used for water surface sports and in the cold water and where the divers are going deeper.

Modern drysuits are having a waterproof zippers & hydro gloves. The zippers are mostly located across the shoulder lines or in the front of the torso, to wear the dry suits easily. Drysuits may have the hydrogloves, permanently attached to the drysuits or with attachment rings. Modern drysuits have the air inflation valve, which empowers the diver to control the buoyancy of the suit by injecting air from the diving regulator to get rid of squeeze under deep water. A drysuit is worn over an insulating undersuit.

A modern drysuit has an air ventilation valve, which allows the diver to release the higher-pressure air from the suit when they are coming out of the water. Ventilator valves may be automatic or manual. It is used as the pressure relief valves. Most of the automatic ventilators are located at the shoulder of the dry suits and the manual ventilators are located at the wrist.

A modern version of the two-piece drysuit is manufactured at Customworks at Idaho. These two-piece drysuits give all sorts of comfort to the divers, boaters, swimmers, sailors, cave divers and the water adventurers. They are making the drysuits considering the needs of its users.

About The Author:

Abir Roychowdhury is a professional Internet Marketer & Sr. Executive SEO of KarmickSolutions.com. WWW.Hydroglove.com is the online resource for Scuba Gears, Diving Equipments and provides an expanding line of Rubber Molded DrySuits, Dive Kits, HydroSuits, HydroGloves, wetsuits, snorkles, masks fins, all are made for collectors, surfers, swimmers and vintage divers.

Source: DrySuits for Scuba Diving

Canada

CALGARY - Canada has stolen a coach from the powerhouse German luge team in order to get Canadians on the podium at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver and beyond.

The Canadian Luge Association introduced Wolfgang (Stoddy) Staudinger at a news conference Tuesday at the Ice House at Canada Olympic Park.

Staudinger was an assistant coach of the German luge team that includes the current world champions David Moller and Tatjana Huefner. The German women routinely sweep the podium in World Cup races.

Canada’s luge team hasn’t produced nearly as many World Cup or world championship medals as the country’s two other two sliding sports - bobsleigh and skeleton.

Canadians have won three World Cup medals in individual races in the history of the sport, with Regan Lauscher’s silver in 2004 the country’s best result yet.

With financial help from Own The Podium, the CLA was able to sign Staudinger on until 2014.

"Bringing Wolfgang on is a huge step forward in our program," Lauscher said. "He’s pointed me in the right direction.

"I have a clear vision of where I need to go and the steps I need to do to get there."

Staudinger initially wasn’t anxious to leave a country that produced medallists every week, but after studying video of Canadians, Staudinger felt they have the potential to be the best in the world.

"They are absolutely in the ball game," he said. "They are pretty close in athletic ability. What they are lacking is some skill level.

"I compare the German hockey team to the Canadian hockey team. Why is the Germany team not performing up to the Canadian team? Simply because the skill level and skating is not as good. What we have to do to improve in Canada is get the skill level in sliding up equal to the German team."

Staudinger has been working with Canada’s nine-member luge team for about six weeks and Jeff Christie feels a difference already.

"He’s brought a way," Christie said. "Before, we had a lot of ideas and were trying a lot of things with steels and training. They’re all very good ideas, but it’s really tiring to be working on seven different things.

"He brought a way that said `these are the things we need to do, if you do this, you will be successful’ and we believe him and we know that it’s true because he’s trained Olympic and world champions, World Cup medallists and World Cup overall medallists.

"Most of all, we’re going to have a winning attitude on our team. Before, we always wanted that, but we’ve never had somebody who has had that success and been there and feels comfortable with it."

The luge team opens the World Cup season Nov. 16-17 in Lake Placid, N.Y., followed by World Cup races Nov. 23-24 at Calgary’s Canada Olympic Park.

Walter Corey, who has coached the luge team since 2003, has moved into the role of high-performance director.

Staudinger will be assisted by two other Germans. Steffen Skel, who specializes in doubles, also joined the team this year, while Robert Fegg continues on in the role he’s had since 2003.

Staudinger, 44, has several connections to Canada and Calgary starting with the Olympic bronze he won in doubles at the 1988 Games here.

His wife Marie-Claude Doyon is Canadian and won a World Cup bronze in 1987. They have an eight-year-old daughter Rebecca.

"I have half a Canadian heart I should say," Staudinger said.

Staudinger also coached here from 1989 to 1992 before heading to the U.S. program and then back to the German team.

"There’s not very many top luge coaches in the world and to be able to access someone as good as Wolfgang, it’s just going to put us to a level that only a few teams have," said Tim Farstad, the CLA’s executive director.

"It’s more important than just about anything at this point, because the level that we’re at, it gets us to the next step." 

Where there is a significant gap between Canada and Germany is in their technology and equipment, said Staudinger.

"Right now we are still lacking quite a bit from equipment base and there is still a ways to catch up," he said. "Over the summer, we started to bring all the existing equipment up to a German standard.

"Over the next year, we will bring in some new equipment. To change everything at once wouldn’t be a good thing either."

Coaches of Staudinger’s calibre make between US$80,000 and $120,000 in salary a year, but it’s the length of the seven-year contract that is eye-catching.

"It took about two months of going back and forth with Wolfgang and then going to OTP and making sure we could support his financial requests," explained Nicholas Bass, OTP’s high performance adviser to luge.

"Wolfgang is not replacing a coach. We’ve expanded the coaches so instead of having two coaches on the World Cup we have three."

Added Staudinger: "To come for two or three years doesn’t really make sense. Yes, we want to succeed to the maximum in 2010, but I want to grow with these athletes all the way to 2014."

Source: Canada hires top German luge coach

Boxing

CHICAGO - Canadian boxer Arash Usmanee lost a close fight to Yakup Kilic of Turkey on Tuesday at the World Amateur Boxing Championships.

Kilic held on for a 20-19 win over Usmanee in their 57-kilogram featherweight fight.

Usmanee outscored Kilic 10-2 in the fourth round, but the strong finish was not enough for the Red Deer, Alta., native to secure a victory.

In other Canadian results, Kevin Bizier of St. Emile, Que., was defeated by Kazakhstan’s Serik Sapiyev in the 64-kilogram light welterweight fight.

The contest was stopped by the referee after Bizier, who defeated Zakou Moussa of Nigeria 17-7 on Friday, was outscored 30-10 by the end of the third round. 

Source: Usmanee loses at Amateur Championships

Oklahoma kicks off against the Aggies on Saturday night at 7.

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — There’s a certain amount of adoration for the wishbone around the Sooner Nation, considering the national championships it helped Oklahoma win in decades past.

About the closest fans of the No. 5 Sooners (7-1, 3-1 Big 12) can get to the offensive philosophy these days will come when Texas A&M (6-3, 3-2) brings the nation’s ninth-ranked rushing offense to Norman on Saturday.

“With their two running backs and quarterback back there, you’re really defending the wishbone,” Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said Tuesday. “They just hide it in acting like they’re not running the wishbone. In the end, they are. They’re running the triple option, running veer option principles.”

Oklahoma knows the history of the wishbone as well as anyone. Former coach Barry Switzer installed it as the Sooners offensive coordinator in the early 1970s, then used it to win national titles in 1974, 1975 and 1985.

Texas A&M’s system isn’t the one that Switzer ran. Quarterback Stephen McGee lines up in the shotgun, flanked by tailbacks Jorvorskie Lane and Michael Goodson, with the option to keep the ball or give it to either of the runners.

“When you run that type of offense, there’s a significant amount of time invested in reading it properly and executing it properly,” Stoops said. “A lot of people suggest that we go back to it, and people think you can just jump in it for two or three plays a game and it just works. There’s a major investment in reading it and executing your pitch, pulling it and all the reads that go along with it.

“There’s a lot to it. There’s a strong investment in operating it efficiently.”

In the age of wide-open passing offenses, it’s uncommon for teams to encounter a run game that averages 46.3 rushes per game. Only three Bowl Subdivision teams have run the ball more frequently than the Aggies this season.

“It’s kind of difficult but then again, you work on it every week and it becomes easier throughout the week with practice. You get used to it,” Sooners defensive end Alan Davis said.

“At first, you’re like, `Wow! This option’s coming in’ at the beginning of the week. But once you work on it throughout the week, you get familiar with it.”

With the Sooners coming off a bye week, they’ve had even more time to prepare for the Aggies’ unique offense that gained 204 yards rushing in last season’s 17-16 home loss to Oklahoma.

“That’s all it is is just stay disciplined and trust your keys, trust your footwork and your technique,” Davis said. “That’ll put you in the right position every time.”

Stoops praised his defense, which ranks third in the nation against the run and 11th overall, for responding against offenses ranging from the spread to more conventional approaches. Opponents are averaging only 68.9 yards rushing against Oklahoma.

“We feel we are versatile that way and can match up with the different styles that are out there,” Stoops said.

Stoops also cautioned that the Sooners can’t forget the play-action pass because the wishbone-like offense “isn’t all they do, it’s part of what they do.”

“A&M’s going to throw the ball at you and then they’re going to run the ball at you with Jorvorskie in third-down-and-short situations,” Davis said. “We’ve just got to be prepared and be versatile. When the pass presents itself, we’ve got to go out there and play the pass. When the run presents itself, we’ve got to go out there and play the run.”

Source: Sooners Set to Host Texas A&M