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lingzi
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Dec 16 2012, 09:08 AM
Post #1
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LONDON -- Liverpool appears set to hire Brendan Rodgers as its new manager. Kevin Walter Red Jersey . The hire would vault the Northern Irishman from relative obscurity to one of the toughest jobs in soccer, with his current club Swansea claiming a deal was expected to be finalized on Thursday. Following talks with Liverpools American owners -- Fenway Sports Group, which owns the Boston Red Sox -- Rodgers told Swansea on Wednesday he has been offered the job as Kenny Dalglishs replacement at Anfield and was ready to accept. "We are trying to finalize within the next 24 hours," Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins. "Although we are very disappointed to lose such a talented, young British manager, we didnt wish to stand in his way." Liverpool will have to pay compensation to Swansea, reported to be in the region $6 million, because Rodgers has three years left on his contract after signing a new deal in January. In what will be one of the most low-key managerial appointments made by the traditional English powerhouse in a generation, the 39-year-old Rodgers was preferred to Wigan manager Roberto Martinez despite having only one seasons experience in Englands top division. That year, however, was a highly successful one, with Swansea finishing 11th in its first season in the Premier League, earning plenty of admirers because of the Welsh teams attractive, possession-based style of play. It made Rodgers one of the most sought managers in Britain. "We wish Brendan every success in the future," Jenkins said. "We will always remain good friends and we thank him for all his hard work and passion at this football club over the past two years. We shall now refocus and quickly start the process of finding his replacement to continue the great work Brendan has carried out at this football club." Liverpool, which has yet to comment on the managerial situation, fired Dalglish two weeks ago after a disappointing campaign in the Premier League, where it placed eighth -- its lowest finish in 18 years. The Reds last match of the season was a 1-0 loss at Swansea, leaving them 17 points off a Champions League qualification spot, the minimum goal of the owners. Dalglish guided Liverpool to victory in the League Cup final, ending the clubs six-year trophy drought, but it wasnt enough to convince management he was the man to return the five-time European champions to glory. Liverpool targeted the hiring of a young manager to replace Dalglish and also held talks with Martinez, who led Wigan to survival in the Premier League with a stunning late-season run that included a 1-0 win at Liverpool. But it decided on Rodgers, who was once a youth-team manager at Chelsea under Jose Mourinho and has also managed second-tier clubs Watford and Reading. Brian Cushing Jersey . A two-time MVP, Nash has spent the most dominant years of his career in the Phoneix Suns back-court. In 1,152 career NBA games with the Suns and Dallas Mavericks Nash has averaged 14. Duane Brown Jersey . With the celebrated team back home on native soil, it was time to party for a second straight night. King Juan Carlos and members of the royal family congratulated players at the Zarzuela Palace outside Madrid within hours of their returning from Kyiv, where they crushed Italy 4-0 to defend their title Sunday night. http://www.nfltexansfansstore.com/nike-glover-quin-Texans-jersey/ . The National Basketball Players Association said Friday that arbitrator Kenneth Dam affirmed its position that players claimed off waivers can use their "Bird" and "Early Bird" rights. Andre Johnson Youth Jersey . Marion scored 10 of his 24 points in the second quarter to help the Mavericks pull ahead 61-43 at halftime. O.J. Mayo had 13 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists for the Mavericks, who finished 4-4 in the preseason. Byron Mullens, Charlottes leading scorer in the preseason, had 16 points and 19 rebounds. Kevin Walter Camo Jersey . -- Amari Cooper caught two touchdown passes from AJ McCarron and Christion Jones returned a kickoff 99 yards for another score, leading No.ATLANTA -- Jeff Samardzijas splitter baffled the Atlanta Braves. Again. Samardzija had a career-high 11 strikeouts, Luis Valbuena hit a tiebreaking three-run double in the seventh and the Chicago Cubs won 4-1 on Monday night. Samardzija (6-7) yielded one run and four hits in seven innings, rebounding from a rough June. The right-hander was 0-4 with a 12.27 ERA in his previous four starts, allowing a season-high nine runs during a 17-1 loss to the Mets on Wednesday. "Its about time, you know?" Samardzija said. "I just thought I took my time from pitch to pitch. I thought I made the right pitch selection based on the previous pitch." Samardzija began the night with a 5.05 ERA. But he also was sharp in his first start against Atlanta this season, tossing seven solid innings in a 5-1 victory at Wrigley Field on May 7. "Both times Ive faced him, hes had unbelievable stuff," Atlanta pitcher Tommy Hanson. "He throws hard and has that good split and starts throwing those sliders in there. Anytime youre mixing three pitches, its tough." Cubs manager Dale Sveum said the key for Samardzija was using his slider, splitter and fastball, allowing "a three-pitch pitcher to be a three-pitch pitcher." The splitter was the most devastating option. "There were a couple times he threw it four or five times in a row," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "And we had no chance on it. Especially left-handed hitters." Anthony Rizzo connected for Chicago, which has won four straight and six of seven. Rizzo, one of the Cubs top prospects, has two homers in six games since he was recalled on Tuesday. "The way were playing right now is exciting," Samardzija said. "Its solid all around." Samardzija said it may not be a coincidence that the Cubs surge has come since Rizzo joined the team. "It definitely hasnt hurt," Samardzija said. "Rizzos presence in our lineup has been big, a big left-handed hitter." Rizzo, who had two hits, is hitting .304. Jeff Russell pitched the ninth for his second save. Hanson (9-5) gave up four runs and seven hits in seven innings for his first loss since May 28. He went 4-0 with a 3.13 ERA in June. Hanson made it through seven innings for only the sixth time in 17 starts, but appeared to fade in his final inning. Arian Foster Game Jersey. . Bryan LaHair and Steve Clevenger started the seventh with singles, and Darwin Barney walked to load the bases. Valbuena, the No. 8 hitter who began the day with a .226 batting average, then doubled to right field for a 4-1 lead. "I wanted to throw a back-door slider right there and it kind of leaked over the middle," Hanson said. "I felt really good with my stuff. I was throwing strikes and getting ahead of guys. It just came down to that last inning." Rizzo hit Hansons first pitch of the fourth inning over the wall in left-centre for his second homer. Atlanta tied it in the sixth. With two outs, Michael Bourn doubled to left field and scored on Martin Prados single. The Braves only hit through five innings came with two outs in the second, when Dan Uggla, hustling all the way, beat out a grounder to shortstop Starlin Castro. Andrelton Simmons led off the Atlanta third with a walk, took second on his first career stolen base and advanced to third on a wild pitch by Samardzija. Hanson then struck out and Bourn lined into a double play. Barney made a diving stop on Simmons ground ball behind second base and threw him out in the eighth. The second baseman then went the other way to snag a sharply hit grounder by pinch-hitter Eric Hinske for the second out. NOTES: Cubs 3B Ian Stewart, who has been on the disabled list since June 12, will have surgery on his left wrist. Sveum said the date for the procedure has not been set. Stewart is batting .201 with five homers and 17 RBIs in 179 at-bats. ... Cubs RHP Ryan Dempster, who has been on the 15-day DL since June 18 with tightness in his right lat muscle, threw 40 pitches in the bullpen. Barring a setback, he plans to throw again in the bullpen on Wednesday. Sveum said he doesnt think Dempster will need a minor league rehab stint. ... Braves C Brian McCann, who was only 3 for 21 on the homestand before Monday night, was moved down to seventh in the batting order, the first time he has hit below sixth this season. McCann was 0 for 3 and is hitting only .224. ... The four-game series continues on Tuesday night with RHP Jair Jurrjens facing Cubs RHP Chris Volstad. ... Samardzijas previous high of nine strikeouts came on April 24 against St. Louis. ' ' '
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