NFL Comes To An Agreement and more[Sports Week]
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Canada wins the first round of the inaugural World Baseball Classic, McNamara takes an outstanding victory shot, and more. Stephen Brandt writes.  In the end, even the NFL's maverick owners decided that labor peace was better than the uncertainty of working without a salary cap. And they put their differences aside for the greater good of the game. The other leagues should take note. They didn't especially like doing it, though, after two days of meetings that sometimes got quite contentious.”No one hit anyone,” Oakland's Al Davis said after the owners finally agreed Wednesday to accept a deal that will add close to a billion dollars to the players' pool in return for six years of labor peace. “Yeah, people were yelling a little bit, you know, but it's part of life. The idea is to go and get something done.” Everyone was greedy in this, and you know, that’s what money does to people. Davis, the NFL's most conspicuous antiestablishment owner, turned into a league supporter for this one. Al Davis is a guy who has sued the NFL more often than not. The agreement will add $850 to $900 million to the player revenue pool, contributed each year on a sliding scale by the fifteen teams that earn the most from non-television and ticket income. And while those teams aren't happy to be throwing so much cash in the pot – once again, greedy – they said they would rather do that than deal with the uncertainty of a 2007 without a salary cap and perhaps a work stoppage in 2008. ”The proposal was really a mean mother from the union,” said Dallas' Jerry Jones, the leader of a faction of owners who for two years resisted the additional revenue sharing. Canada Wins Rounds 1 of World Baseball Classic Who would have thought that a team full of role players and prospects would beat the mighty United States baseball team in the World Baseball Classic? Adam Stern hit .133 in 36 games for the Boston Red Sox in an injury-plagued 2005 season. Adam Loewen spent all of last year at Class A Frederick in the a Baltimore organization. On a brisk Wednesday afternoon, the two outshone the Jeters and A-Rods of Team USA, leading Canada to a surprising 8-6 victory in the first round of the inaugural World Baseball Classic. ”We like to tell everyone we can play baseball, too,” Stern said. “We're not just a hockey country.” Stern hit an inside-the-park homer, drove in four runs and made two sensational catches in center. Maybe he can fill the fourth outfield spot for the Red Sox again this year. Loewen, a 21-year-old left-hander, gave up three hits and walked three but didn't allow a run in 3 2-3 innings and got the victory. ”He pitched a heck of a game,” U.S. manager Buck Martinez said, “and he showed a lot of composure for a guy that hasn't pitched about A-ball.” Loewen escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first when Chipper Jones hit into a double play. Gerry McNamara Steals Victory As a Kansas graduate, I am supposed to hate Gerry McNamara, but living in Syracuse part of the year as I do, I actually like him a lot. Gerry McNamara has made plenty of tough shots for Syracuse. However, this one might have topped them all. The senior guard drove the length of the court and hit a 3-pointer with a half-second left, leading Syracuse to a riveting 74-73 victory over Cincinnati on Wednesday in the first round of the Big East tournament. The Orange may have greatly improved their chances of earning an at-large NCAA berth. ”I think this, with the situation we're in and under the circumstances, is probably the most important to me right now,” McNamara said. “This is the most important shot I've hit.” With the Orange (20-11) trailing 73-71 and just more than 6 seconds to go, McNamara dribbled through the Cincinnati defense and hoisted a one-handed shot between the NBA and college 3-point lines. It was one of those shots that you don’t practice – it just happens. Official Curtis Shaw immediately ruled the shot a 3, and the play was reviewed and upheld. (Just as a side note, Shaw must either have eight brothers with the same name, or he’s superman, because he officiates every basketball game I see.) McNamara was then serenaded by chants of "Gerry! Gerry!" by the crowd at Madison Square Garden. “I wanted to take what I got,” McNamara said. “If I'm going to take a runner, I'm not going to step on the line. I made sure I was behind the line.” Jihad Muhammad took a desperation shot from near half court that hit the front of the rim at the buzzer, sealing the win for Syracuse. |
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