Kirk Walters is still trying to get back in shape. Last year concussions and mono kept him from playing all but three minutes of the season. Now fatigue issues related to the ailments are slowing him down. The fifth-year senior discusses this team.
Filed under Arizona
Source: Audio: Kirk Walters
There’s a makeover in the works for the “NG” brand.
This will not be welcome news to the legions of gentlemen who’ve coveted the provocative Natalie Gulbis calendars of the past several years, nor to those who carefully craft slide shows of Natalie bikini shots. You see, the idea behind this rebranding is to take control of an image that has become more about sexiness and glamour and less about sportiness and golf.
A Richmond VA branding agency, Circle S Studio, is working with Gulbis’ sports-marketing firm, Octagon, to reposition the gifted golfer, and the shift would turn the perception of Natalie Gulbis as “swimsuit-model-for-men” to that of “role-model-for women”. The repositioning is already evident in the her 2008 calendar and day planner which, as was reported earlier this month, is far less revealing and far more golf oriented than in past years.
Natalie Gulbis has now earned her first LPGA tour title (the Evian Masters) thus banishing the “sexy but winless” aura that had dogged her for quite a while. This would certainly be a logical time for her to take her brand in a new direction if that’s what she wants to do. That said, I’ve no doubt that with her good looks and friendly, accessible personality, she’ll continue attract the attention of most her current fans.
Source: The Rebranding of Natalie Gulbis
Arthritis is a general term that refers to a group of conditions that affect the health and functioning of bone joints in the body. It is estimated that one in three Americans suffer from arthritis of some form. Arthritis affects nearly twice as many women as men.
Included in the category of arthritic diseases are rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, which are both autoimmune disorders. There is septic arthritis, which is caused by infection of the joint. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is a degenerative joint disease.
Arthritis can also be caused by injury from sports, repetitive motion, overexertion and falls. Differing from the autoimmune types of arthritis, osteoarthritis affects large groups of older people and is the result of degeneration of cartilage in the bone joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a very inflammatory autoimmune disorder where the immune system actually attacks the joints specifically. It is a painful and disabling condition that can lead to joint destruction and intense and chronic pain. Rheumatoid arthritis can also cause a meaningful decrease in a patient’s mobility, which too often has deleterious effects on a person’s mood and sense of wellbeing.
Psoriatic arthritis is another type of inflammatory autoimmune arthritis that affects around 20% of people that suffer from the chronic skin condition called psoriasis. Treatments for psoriatic arthritis are very similar to those used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. This type of arthritis can develop at any age, but tends to show up about ten years after the initial signs and symptoms of psoriasis.
For most people suffering from psoriatic arthritis, the onset occurs between the ages of thirty and fifty. There have been cases, however, where children as young as four have been diagnosed with this autoimmune type of arthritis. It appears that women and men are equally affected by psoriatic arthritis. In approximately one in seven cases of psoriatic arthritis, the disease develops with no prior psoriasis symptoms.
The main goal of most psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis therapies is to focus on inflammatory treatments that will reduce swelling and inflammation. Pain medications containing naproxen are often the first line of defense against the pain and swelling associated with these types of arthritis.
Other treatments for rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis include injections of corticosteroids into the joints that are most severely affected. If none of these treatments provides relief, sometimes immunosuppressant substances like methotrexate are added to a treatment regimen. An advantage of this type of therapy is that the immunosuppressants will also treat the underlying psoriasis.
No matter which type of arthritis, all forms of this disease are painful. Pain is usually the worst in morning or on initiating movement after longer periods of rest. This usually slowly subsides over a period of activity. Sometimes, the pain is not a primary complaint of those suffering from arthritis. Instead, a chief complaint may be that the affected areas are simply stiff or the person ‘doesn’t feel like’ moving it.
IN the diagnosis of arthritis, x-rays and blood tests of the joints that are affected, is usual practice. X-rays can show bone appositions or erosions, and blood tests show electrolyte levels as well as information about renal function and calcium, phosphate and protein levels. These types of tests help determine the type of arthritis a person has, as well as the best methods of treatment.
Deon Melchior is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit ArticleClick.com. Article Click is a free content article directory. This means that as a publisher you may reprint the articles that are included in our site, as long as the article is unedited and the author box is included with it’s live hyperlinks.
Source: Arthritis
A.J. Allmendinger
A.J. Allmendinger says the only hope for the survival of open wheel racing in North America is if the Champ Car and Indy Racing League series unite.
The former open wheel racer switched to the NASCAR series this past season with the new Red Bull Racing Toyota team. Prior to that, he was the last American driver who had a real chance of contending for the championship in the Champ Car series.
"It’s sad to see that the two series have killed each other," he tells autosport.com. "It’s hard to say if it can ever get back to what it used to be.. but first things first - you’ve gotta have one series, so you don’t have to explain to the casual fan that ‘Hey, I race in this series, but it’s not the same as the cars racing in the Indy 500′".
"That kind of confusion is why it’s so tough for either Champ Car or IRL to get the casual fan back. The die-hard fans, the ones that have been into it from the start, you don’t need to get them. They’re there already, they’ll love it through the good times and the bad."
Talk of uniting the two open-wheel rivals has gained momentum the last few years with Honda playing a huge role in serious talks which took place between IRL boss Tony George and Champ Car co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven in March of 2006. However, as in the past, unification talks stalled and this past year whatever progress there may have been made in 2006 seems to have been forgotten in 2007.
Allmendinger, who has struggled - along with the Toyota team - in his first full season of NASCAR competition, says he still misses open-wheel racing.
"Champ Cars were awesome cars to drive, the most fun cars I’ve ever driven and we took them to some real badass venues – Long Beach, Surfers Paradise, Toronto. They were awesome races to go to, and there is still a good potential package there – the racing and the venues are great.
"But the marketing and the sponsorship isn’t there, and for that you need one series. So be it Champ Car dying and IRL taking over, or the other way round – it needs to be one series. To have all the best open-wheel drivers on this continent racing against each other, you’d hopefully get some sponsors back and get a decent TV package.
"In the long term, it would work for the standard of the series too: you’d get drivers there on merit rather than because of how much money they bring."
Allmendinger was widely criticized by open-wheel supporters for abandoning Champ Car, especially after Gerald Forsythe rescued him from the unemployment line after he was released by RuSport Racing. He would go on to win five times for Forsythe Racing and provide a stiff challenge for Sebastien Bourdais in the championship. But before the year was out, he accepted a big money offer to go NASCAR racing.
Allmendinger adds its easy to understand the recent influx of other open-wheel racers such as Juan Pablo Montoya, Jacques Villeneuve, Patrick Carpentier and Dario Franchitti into NASCAR.
"It’s opportunity," he says. "Between the Cup, Busch and Trucks, you can still make a living in racing. You can go out, show your talent, get noticed and move your career forward. Unfortunately right now you don’t have that in open-wheel racing in North America. It comes down to who has money, who can most help bring sponsorship in."
Sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe has condemned Chelsea captain John Terry’s salary as “obscene” while criticising Manchester United’s ticket prices.
Sutcliffe believes the sky-high wages and ticket prices are alienating fans.
Speaking at a sports summit in London, Sutcliffe said: “Good luck to John, but it is obscene to be on 150,000 a week.
“And United season tickets went up by 13% - holders have to automatically buy European and Carling Cup games at 200, that takes it away from ordinary fans.”
The MP for Bradford South is himself a United fan, but he contrasted the club’s prices with those at Bradford City where season tickets were cut to 138 this season, equating to 6 per game.
The Bantams were relegated to League Two last season, but the club has 12,000 season-ticket holders - almost as many as when the club were in the Premier League six seasons ago.
Sutcliffe continued: “Ordinary working people who want go and see Manchester United face being priced out.
“There is a danger that there will be a move away from the game and we don’t want to be in a position where people are alienated.”
Sutcliffe said the Government would not interfere with the running of football, such as by trying to impose salary caps, but said he wanted to act as “a critical friend”.
“People in the street cannot understand salaries like Terry’s,” he added.
“Chelsea are 250m in the red and they may be able to cope with that but it’s not the real world.
“250m in the red is not sustainable.”
Chelsea are furious with some of the figures quoted by Sutcliffe and are understood to have complained to his department that they are inaccurate.
Sutcliffe will be raising his views with Premier League boss Richard Scudamore and Manchester United chief executive David Gill in meetings on Thursday.
Sooners conclude season tonight at OSU
Nov. 1, 2007
IRVING, Texas — In recognition of her community service efforts, senior midfielder Allyson Kucera (Pearland, Texas) was named to the 2007 Fall Sports Good Works Team.
Kucera, one of three captains for OU this season, has started every game in 2007, ranks third in goals scored and still takes time out of her busy schedule to participate in various community service efforts.
Kucera, a three-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree, volunteers at different middle schools in the area once a week and also leads a bible study one night a week for high school girls and serves as a volunteer coach for a local girls’ soccer team.
Each member institution selected a student-athlete for recognition based upon significant community service, good academic standing and participation in a Big 12-sponsored sport.
For the second year, the Big 12 will announce a 12-person Good Works Team for the fall (cross country, football, soccer, volleyball), winter (basketball, gymnastics, swimming & diving, wrestling) and spring (baseball, golf, softball, tennis, track & field,).
2007 BIG 12 FALL SPORTS GOOD WORKS TEAM
Name - Class - School - Sport
Joe Pawelek - So. - Baylor - Football
Alexandra Buth - Jr. - Colorado - Volleyball
Michael O’Connell - Fr. - Iowa State - Football
Caitlin Mahoney - Sr. - Kansas - Volleyball
Jenny Jantsch - Jr. - Kansas State - Volleyball
Kate Greer - Sr. - Missouri - Cross Country
Amanda Gates - Jr. - Nebraska - Volleyball
Allyson Kucera - Sr. - Oklahoma - Soccer
Niccole Grimaldi - Sr. - Oklahoma State - Soccer
Colt McCoy - So. - Texas - Football
Evelyn Wing - Jr. - Texas A&M - Cross Country
Brian Duncan Fr. Texas Tech Football
Click here to learn more about Thursday’s Ford Bedlam Series.
Source: Kucera Named to Good Works Team
THE Australian PGA Championship at Coolum next month faces talk of a boycott by leading Australian players in a row over appearance money being paid to South African Rory Sabbatini.
Robert Allenby and Stuart Appleby are among those said to be unhappy that Sabbatini, the world No.8, is being paid $200,000, a figure disputed by tournament promoter Tony Roosenburg.
”There are many unhappy Aussies … it’s all about Rory,” said US PGA Tour player Paul Gow, an Australian based in Florida.
”We all know (Sabbatini) personally and we know he’s not worth 200K,” Gow said.
”You could see some of the better name Australian players not playing .. a limited boycott.”
Allenby informed organisers today that he was pulling out of the tournament, which he has won three times in the past seven years.
His manager, David Rollo, confirmed that Allenby is unhappy about the issue of appearance money, but denied this was behind his withdrawal.
”It’s purely a scheduling thing,” he said.
Appleby remains in the field so far.
Sabbatini and world No.6 Adam Scott are both being paid to play at Coolum, but Roosenburg said the figure nominated by Gow was way off the mark.
”It sounds to me like a personal vendetta against Rory Sabbatini,” he said.
”What’s wrong with him? He’s never been to Australia. Is that normally a good thing (for a tournament)?”
Roosenburg said he was astonished by the criticism, considering the tournament has upped the prizemoney by $200,000 to a record $1.4 million despite not making a profit in the past six years.
”We are the only tournament in Australia that’s got two players in the top 10. Isn’t that something to celebrate?
”We do everything to do the right thing by Australian golf and we get criticised for getting the No.8 in the world,” he fumed.
”I’ve never heard anything like it. Tell me what we’ve done wrong?
”It is heartbreaking for us to get criticised by the players. I would like to get a compliment for it instead of being criticised.”
Appearance money for overseas stars has long been a touchy subject in Australian golf.
The top Australian players pull people through the gate while supporting home tour events without receiving appearances fees, and tend to resent it when foreign players do.
There is, however, an unwritten agreement among Australian promoters that major winners and top-10 players are entitled to appearance money.
Sabbatini has been in great form this year, winning $US4.55 million ($A4.88 million) and finishing sixth on the PGA Tour money list, though he has yet to win a major.
But he is not the most popular player on tour and has a relatively low profile in Australia, which insiders believe may have something to do with the current row.
Gow suggested the money would be better spent on getting John Daly, who famously tossed his putter into the lake at Coolum’s 18th hole in 2001 and stalked off without signing his card.
”We’ve been there and done that,” said Roosenburg, who added that he has no intention of meeting Daly’s asking price of $US350,000 ($A376,000).
”I’m a great friend of John Daly’s but he still demands an outlandish amount of money for what you’d have to think is only two rounds, because it’s not likely that he’d make the cut at the place like Coolum.”
AAP
Source: Aussies threaten Coolum boycott
Arsenal began proceedings with a goal from Eduardo that went in like a bullet from a gun.They then dismantled Sheffield United 3 - 0.
Chelsea had to labour a bit for their win over Leicester City - who scored the first goal.But Lampard saved the day with a hat trick.Final score 4 -3 .
Source: Carling Cup Videos: Arsenal and Chelsea register wins
Still basking in the glow of making the post-season for the first time in 14 seasons, yet sorely disappointed with the speed with which they were dispatched from the playoffs, the NL East Division Champion Phillies begin planning and preparing for a 2008 season in which they seek to reach the next level and perhaps beyond.
Inquirer staff writer Todd Zolecki reports;
The Phillies will hold their organizational meetings today and tomorrow at Citizens Bank Park. Phillies front-office officials, scouts, and coaches from the major and minor leagues will be in attendance. They will go through the talent at every level in the Phils’ system.
This post will deal with free agency; both Phillies’ free agent retention and some of those players deemed prospective free agency acquisitions as well as those who qualify for arbitration and a few of my own observations.
It looks as if the major discussions could center around these players;
Phillies Entering Free Agency;
Centerfielder Aaron Rowand
MLB.com’s Ken Mandel reports;
Rowand is coming off a season in which he hit .309 with a career-high 27 home runs and 89 RBIs.
It has been reported that Rowand is seeking a six-year deal worth $85 million, a price the Phillies can’t afford. Though general manager Pat Gillick said there’s money in the budget to retain Rowand and still address pitching, the team is likely willing to be in the three-year, $30-33 million range that Eric Byrnes received from Arizona this season.
If Rowand leaves and the Phillies don’t add another center fielder, the team will shift right fielder Shane Victorino to center field and could end up with a three-headed monster of Jayson Werth, Greg Dobbs and Michael Bourn in right field.
Reliever lefthander JC Romero
MLB.com’s Mandel comments;
Romero rescued the Phillies’ bullpen after being claimed off waivers on June 22. The lefty posted a 1.24 ERA in 51 games for the Phillies, allowing five earned runs in 36 1/3 innings. He appeared in 20 of the team’s 28 September games and didn’t allow a run.
In my humble opinion, without Romero in a middle-relief or setup role down the stretch, the Phillies don’t catch and overtake the Mets.
2nd baseman Tadahito Iguchi
MLB’s Mandel reports in a piece that Tadahito Iguchi also enters the free agency market.
Iguchi’s clutch performance, once acquired by the Phillies after all star 2nd baseman Chase Utley went down for 30 days with an injury and where the club scarcely missed a beat, endeared him to Phillies fans and is worthy of reward. The question I have, is Iguchi exclusively a 2nd baseman? Or does he have the flexibility and range defensively to play 3rd base, or to take a utility role? His performance in 2004 and 2005 with the Chicago White Sox proves that he has some pop in his bat.
Utility infielder Abraham Nunez
Phillies declined a 2008 option on Nunez whose hitting improved in 2007 but not enough to be competitive with either a Mark Loretta, or a Tad Iguchi, if he can handle a utility role.
Other Free Agent Prospective Acquisitions;
Starting pitcher Curt Schilling
As was previously posted on this blog, Schilling indicates that he may not remain with Boston in 2008. And the Phillies are one of two teams on Schilling’s short list according MLB Rumors.
Inquirer writer Todd Zolecki comments;
The Phillies definitely are interested in Schilling, although they did not say that publicly yesterday. And Schilling has said he is interested in the Phillies should the Red Sox not re-sign him. But here’s what makes Schilling even more attractive to the Phillies, other than his success as a big-game pitcher and ability to help this team over the hump: he said on his radio show yesterday that he is looking for a one-year contract. Now, Schillling made $13 million this season. It’s unclear how much he is looking for next season, but a one-year, $13 million contract for Schilling sounds a little better than the three-year, $24.5 million contract Adam Eaton signed last season, you know what I mean? At least if Schilling would struggle, the Phillies only would be on the hook for one season … unlike Eaton, who is on the hook for another two.
As I see it, with Schilling signed as a starter, I envision the rotation at this early date to be something like this; Cole Hamels, Kyle Kendrick, Schilling and Jamie Moyer with Kyle Lohse and Adam Eaton as spot starters.
3rd baseman Mike Lowell
20 124 .324 and about even with Helms fielding %. The definite preferential fit for the Phillies at 3rd base if he goes on the open market.
Closer Francisco Cordero 3.29 lifetime ERA 9 seasons.
Closer Mariano Rivera
MLB.com’s Ken Mandel comments;
Another topic… what to do with Brett Myers. The stated preference has been to leave him in the bullpen, but a thin market for starting pitching and the possibility of signing Rivera or Cordero could push Myers to the rotation.
Acquisition of either Cordero or Rivera could result in jetisoning of 41 year old reliever Tom Gordon either via trade or by other means, thus handing Romero middle relief, with Myers setting up Rivera, or Cordero setting up Myers.
Utility infielder Mark Loretta — He’s played all infield positions, including 3rd base. His lifetime BA is .298, lifetime fielding % .987 — definitely would be an upgrade of offensive capability over Nunez.
former Phils hand starting pitcher Carlos Silva, an Adam Eaton clone with lifetime ERA 4.31 and a proclivity to give up dingers.
Possible Trade Acquistions;
3rd baseman Garrett Atkins
With stats like 25 111 .301, why Colorado would consider moving Atkins with those numbers is beyond me, except that his fielding stats indicate he might not have the glove or range defensively of Helms or Lowell.
3rd baseman Scott Rolen
Yahoo’s MLB Rumors reports;
Now that the Philadelphia Phillies have a new stadium, are competitive, and spend more money than they did when Curt Schilling and Scott Rolen were on the team, it’s reasonable to wonder whether they would come back, fill some holes, and help this team get further than the first round of the playoffs.
Rolen was thought to be the next Mike Schmidt with the glove in addition to some pop with the bat (not as much as Schmidt) during his 9 seasons with the Phils before he and Schilling were traded in 2000. Rolen has been saddled with left shoulder woes and his offensive stats have diminished in recent years. I have doubts whether, at this stage of his career, he is the fit at 3rd base that the Phillies need.
Arbitrations;
1st baseman Ryan Howard
Phillynews.com reporter Steve King comments;
When the Phillies renewed Howard’s contract for 1 year at $900,000 last season, the 2006 MVP, who hit .268 with 47 homers and 136 RBI in 2007, was seeking a multiyear deal.
“We have a pretty good idea of what we want to do with our players arbitrationwise,” said general manager Pat Gillick. “With Ryan, we will look at what some of his pluses and some of his minuses are and decide what we have to do to improve him and what we have to do to support him throughout the season.”
Howard has just got to cut down on the number of strikeouts. To cut down to an Albert Pujols level of 50-60 seems too much to ask. But if he can cut the K’s down to say, a Pat Burrell-type level of 120-130, he and his numbers will be absolutely devastating.
Outfielder Jayson Werth
Werth produced some pop with the bat and gave the fans some thrills, was a defensive asset in the outfield and earned respect for his arm in his first season with the Phils.
Reliever Geoff Geary
Geary was inconsistent throughout 2007 and shuttled to the minors a few times to try to get his act together.
Reliever Ryan Madson
Madson performed well with a 3.05 ERA after a poor start but was hampered by right shoulder woes and was put on 60 day DL on July 30.
Source: Phillies Off-Season; Free Agency, Arbitration and Other Acquisition Moves
This story was actually in yesterday’s print editions of the Baltimore Sun, but reporter Stefan Lovelace has a nice interview with 16-year-old amateur boxing champion Nick Kisner.
It is better to actually get the story online at www.baltimoresun.com, because there is also a nice video interview with Kisner as well as footage from one of his recent battles, the Sept. 27 matchup against Dashawn Lucas at Michael’s Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD.
Here is the link to the story:
“http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/boxing/bal-va.kisner31oct31,0,3572463.story”