The vast majority of NFL offensive lineman are conditioned to operate in the shadows.
They go about their work largely ignored by media and fans zoned in on the skill players they blast holes for.
Whether or not we're paying enough attention to these behemoths, it's understood by most that angering your run-of-the-mill O-lineman is a poor idea. Angering a big hoard of them -- decisively dumb and potentially dangerous.
Packers nose tackle B.J. Raji -- perhaps because he's 6-foot-2 and well over 300 pounds -- threw caution to the wind Thursday in his review of the Giants' offensive line.
"Not to say they're soft. But it's not the toughest group I've been against," Raji told the New York Post in the lead-up to Sunday's NFC divisional playoff in Green Bay.
Raji went out of his way to credit the resiliency of Giants running back Brandon Jacobs, and he was charitable in his review of Victor Cruz and New York's receivers, saying "they've had a good game against us," but that's not going to quell the team's big boys.
Raji -- who, by the way, anchors the NFL's 32nd-ranked defense -- will have a chance to work out his differences with the Giants soon enough.
2012年1月13日星期五
Three Alabama gamers to depart school early, make an application for National football league draft
Alabama All-Americans Trent Richardson, Dont'a Hightower and Dre Kirkpatrick have declared their intention to apply for entry to the NFL draft.
Richardson and Kirkpatrick announced they would not return for their senior seasons with the national champions on Thursday. Alabama spokesman Jeff Purinton said Hightower also isn't returning.
Richardson and Kirkpatrick are both projected as potential top-10 picks while Hightower is regarded as a potential first-rounder.
Richardson won the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back and was third in the Heisman voting. He set single-season rushing records at the school with 1,679 yards and 21 touchdowns.
He and Hightower, a linebacker, were first-team AP All-America selections while Kirkpatrick, a cornerback, was a second-teamer.
The Tide lost three underclassmen to the NFL last year, but wound up beating LSU 21-0 in Monday night's national title game. Kirkpatrick and Richardson were part of two national championship teams.
Richardson said he made the decision Wednesday night. He went home to Pensacola, Fla., from the national championship game in New Orleans to discuss his future with family.
He said he wanted to be able to take care of his mother -- who he says has Lupus -- and two young daughters.
"This place has changed my life," Richardson said. "It really turned me from a teenager to a man, and a grown man at that."
Hightower was eligible for a fifth year after missing most of the 2009 national championship season with a knee injury. He wasn't present at the news conference, and Saban only talked about Richardson and Kirkpatrick.
He said both players pledged to complete their degrees and are about 20 credit hours shy. Hightower, a team captain, graduated in December.
"The chance to be a key part of our national championship team this year made for the perfect end of my Alabama career," Hightower said, via the school's official site. "I can't thank coach Saban, (Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby) Smart and the entire coaching staff enough for helping mold me in the player and person I am today."
Outland Trophy Award-winning left tackle Barrett Jones had already announced he's returning for his senior season.
Richardson and Kirkpatrick announced they would not return for their senior seasons with the national champions on Thursday. Alabama spokesman Jeff Purinton said Hightower also isn't returning.
Richardson and Kirkpatrick are both projected as potential top-10 picks while Hightower is regarded as a potential first-rounder.
Richardson won the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back and was third in the Heisman voting. He set single-season rushing records at the school with 1,679 yards and 21 touchdowns.
He and Hightower, a linebacker, were first-team AP All-America selections while Kirkpatrick, a cornerback, was a second-teamer.
The Tide lost three underclassmen to the NFL last year, but wound up beating LSU 21-0 in Monday night's national title game. Kirkpatrick and Richardson were part of two national championship teams.
Richardson said he made the decision Wednesday night. He went home to Pensacola, Fla., from the national championship game in New Orleans to discuss his future with family.
He said he wanted to be able to take care of his mother -- who he says has Lupus -- and two young daughters.
"This place has changed my life," Richardson said. "It really turned me from a teenager to a man, and a grown man at that."
Hightower was eligible for a fifth year after missing most of the 2009 national championship season with a knee injury. He wasn't present at the news conference, and Saban only talked about Richardson and Kirkpatrick.
He said both players pledged to complete their degrees and are about 20 credit hours shy. Hightower, a team captain, graduated in December.
"The chance to be a key part of our national championship team this year made for the perfect end of my Alabama career," Hightower said, via the school's official site. "I can't thank coach Saban, (Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby) Smart and the entire coaching staff enough for helping mold me in the player and person I am today."
Outland Trophy Award-winning left tackle Barrett Jones had already announced he's returning for his senior season.
2012年1月4日星期三
Source: Penn St., Bill O'Brien to satisfy
Penn Condition is likely to meet Thursday with Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien, a resource acquainted with the procedure told ESPN National football league Insider Adam Schefter.
Penn Condition has recognized O'Brien because the coach it really wants to succeed Joe Paterno. O'Brien is incorporated in the this past year of his contract because the Patriots offensive coordinator.
"Bill is concentrating on another Super Bowl run," O'Brien's agent, Joe Linta, stated Sunday. "However, if the National football league team or Penn Condition seeks permission from Bill Belichick, then Bill will talk to them."
Penn Condition continues to be thinking of getting, scouting and pinpointing the 42-year-old O'Brien through the past month, sources stated. He fits the profile from the mind coach Penn Condition continues to be seeking. O'Brien is well-trained and it has a combination of experience in the college and professional levels. Within an odd coincidence, O'Brien even attended and performed football at Brown, as Paterno did.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick wouldn't discuss O'Brien after his team's win on Sunday.
"I was just attempting to beat Zoysia today and we are moving onto whatever's next," he stated. "I do not have anything to say of every other situation apart from the Gambling.Inch
Penn Condition has attempted, and largely been successful, to conduct its mind-training search in the greatest amounts of secrecy. So what can be confirmed is the fact that, in the start from the search, Penn Condition unsuccessful to land a number of its top options to do the job. Former Colts coach Tony Dungy and Boise Condition coach Chris Billings all received interest in the school, and every relayed to Penn Condition he wasn't thinking about departing his current job at this time around.
Bay Area 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman has additionally questioned for that Penn Condition job, an National football league source stated.
Penn Condition has recognized O'Brien because the coach it really wants to succeed Joe Paterno. O'Brien is incorporated in the this past year of his contract because the Patriots offensive coordinator.
"Bill is concentrating on another Super Bowl run," O'Brien's agent, Joe Linta, stated Sunday. "However, if the National football league team or Penn Condition seeks permission from Bill Belichick, then Bill will talk to them."
Penn Condition continues to be thinking of getting, scouting and pinpointing the 42-year-old O'Brien through the past month, sources stated. He fits the profile from the mind coach Penn Condition continues to be seeking. O'Brien is well-trained and it has a combination of experience in the college and professional levels. Within an odd coincidence, O'Brien even attended and performed football at Brown, as Paterno did.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick wouldn't discuss O'Brien after his team's win on Sunday.
"I was just attempting to beat Zoysia today and we are moving onto whatever's next," he stated. "I do not have anything to say of every other situation apart from the Gambling.Inch
Penn Condition has attempted, and largely been successful, to conduct its mind-training search in the greatest amounts of secrecy. So what can be confirmed is the fact that, in the start from the search, Penn Condition unsuccessful to land a number of its top options to do the job. Former Colts coach Tony Dungy and Boise Condition coach Chris Billings all received interest in the school, and every relayed to Penn Condition he wasn't thinking about departing his current job at this time around.
Bay Area 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman has additionally questioned for that Penn Condition job, an National football league source stated.
Report: O’Brien to interview for Penn Condition job
What, you thought you’d pull through the relaxation during the day without another twist in Penn State’s look for a mind coach?
Bill O’Brien was recognized over the past weekend like a candidate basically signed, sealed and shipped as Penn State’s next coach, simply to have his agent knock lower the reviews by labeling them as “off-base“. Actually, the agent appeared to hint that his client’s future was in the National football league level.
72 hours later, O’Brien’s title is once more attached to employment that’s been vacant for pretty much two full several weeks as USA Today is confirming that O’Brien is scheduled to interview with Penn Condition authorities on Thursday. Ron Mussleman from the Pittsburgh Publish-Gazette subsequently confirmed the report.
O’Brien would get to be the third current National football league assistant to interview to do the job, joining Eco-friendly bay Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements and Bay Area 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman. The second is apparently a finalist to land the Nittany Lions gig.
O’Brien continues to be using the Gambling since 2007, and spent his first season because the National football league club’s offensive coordinator a year ago. Just before 5-year stint within the National football league, O’Brien stayed on college employees at Georgia Tech (1995-2002), Maryland (2003-04) and Duke (2005-06).
It remains unclear when Penn Condition will title a lasting successor to Joe Paterno, although we’re presuming it'll occur sooner or later just before the beginning of the 2012 season.
Bill O’Brien was recognized over the past weekend like a candidate basically signed, sealed and shipped as Penn State’s next coach, simply to have his agent knock lower the reviews by labeling them as “off-base“. Actually, the agent appeared to hint that his client’s future was in the National football league level.
72 hours later, O’Brien’s title is once more attached to employment that’s been vacant for pretty much two full several weeks as USA Today is confirming that O’Brien is scheduled to interview with Penn Condition authorities on Thursday. Ron Mussleman from the Pittsburgh Publish-Gazette subsequently confirmed the report.
O’Brien would get to be the third current National football league assistant to interview to do the job, joining Eco-friendly bay Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements and Bay Area 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman. The second is apparently a finalist to land the Nittany Lions gig.
O’Brien continues to be using the Gambling since 2007, and spent his first season because the National football league club’s offensive coordinator a year ago. Just before 5-year stint within the National football league, O’Brien stayed on college employees at Georgia Tech (1995-2002), Maryland (2003-04) and Duke (2005-06).
It remains unclear when Penn Condition will title a lasting successor to Joe Paterno, although we’re presuming it'll occur sooner or later just before the beginning of the 2012 season.
2011年12月1日星期四
New youth reporter 'blessed' by opportunity
Throughout her 14 years, ninth-grader Meggie Zahneis has never shied from a challenge and continues to conquer one obstacle after another.
That determination, and a charming personality, has not only given a life without limits, it's opened many doors. And the one she's about to walk through is a really big one.
Meggie, who penned the grand-prize-winning essay last summer in Major League Baseball's Breaking Barriers initiative, will become MLB.com's youth reporter and get to write stories about her hometown Cincinnati Reds and baseball at large.
"I am really blessed and really honored to be a part of something like this. It's a pretty cool feeling," Meggie said just before an assembly in her honor Thursday at the Lakota West Freshman School.
With several dignitaries representing the game, Major League Baseball held a presentation for Meggie to announce her new job featuring Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips and Sharon Robinson, the daughter of baseball icon Jackie Robinson and the founder of the Breaking Barriers program.
As about a dozen media members and MLB staffers entered the auditorium before her classmates, Meggie was poised and didn't shrink under the spotlight. She even embraced Phillips not long after he walked in and the two had an extended private conversation -- although at one point, Meggie couldn't help shouting to her father, "Dad, come meet Brandon Phillips!"
The two had interacted in the past at games or events, but Phillips didn't really meet her until Thursday.
"She said I was so nice to sign her autographs all the time," Phillips said. "There's something about her presence that just makes you want to smile. I feel like I can just sit around and talk with her all day. She's very well-spoken."
Breaking Barriers began in 1997, and each year it has held a contest for students in grades 4-8 to submit an essay about barriers or obstacles they faced, still face or overcame.
Meggie was born with a very rare disorder known as HSAN II (Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathy, type 2), which causes her to be unable to feel pain, temperature and touch like most people.
"With her disorder, there are not a lot of people that have it," said Meggie's mother, Cindy Zahneis. "So there is no one to look to to see what's going to happen or what's possible. I think she has pretty much exceeded what people thought might be possible."
Meggie is also 100 percent deaf, if not for the aid of her cochlear implants.
"It may not be on a baseball field, but I face many of the same social and emotional barriers that Jackie Robinson did," Meggie's winning essay read. "Every day, I try to make a conscious commitment to focus on the things I CAN do, and not the ones I can't. I like to think I have the determination to forge forward with my strengths and use them to the advantage of not only myself, but of other kids with special needs. It's my dream that someday, just like Mr. Robinson paved the way for African-Americans to play baseball, I can pave the way, through my writing, for other kids with special needs."
Meggie's essay was one of 10,000 received by Breaking Barriers this year. That large pool was broken down to 100 finalists. Meggie's was the clear winner, according to Robinson.
"First of all, she is a very good writer," Robinson said. "The focus of her essay was on doing what I can do. What she can do is write. It was such a positive essay and a positive spirit that came out, and a great message for kids in general -- and adults. I know adults who have been inspired by her story, as well. It's a message for everybody. Be fearless. Don't let anyone stop you or tell you that you can't do something. Be fearless and move past it. Be the best you can be."
Phillips was also impressed with the essay, especially the part about Meggie focusing her life on what she can do.
"It really inspired me," Phillips said. "It touched my heart and showed me people should look at the world different. You really don't know what people go through."
The grand prize was initially supposed to be a trip to the 2011 All-Star Game in Phoenix, but more opportunities soon came. Robinson and MLB asked Meggie to attend a game at the World Series in Arlington, and that was where she walked into the suite of Commissioner Allan H. "Bud" Selig.
Meggie has a way of making fast friends with people from all walks of life, and this one opened another door for her.
"I've brought a number of kids to the Commissioner's office for the Breaking Barriers contest. He met her very briefly at the All-Star Game, and I knew it wasn't enough," Robinson said. "I said I needed a picture of Meggie and the Commissioner together at the World Series for our program.
"[Selig] just embraced her immediately. What he didn't know was just how strong her knowledge was about baseball. The two of them sat down and fell into this conversation where they were laughing and talking. And they were talking baseball. When he called me, he said, 'I couldn't get her off my mind. She reminds me of [my daughter] Wendy when she was a young girl.' She was that interested in baseball and that knowledgeable."
Meggie impressed Selig in a profound way. With full support of the leadership at MLB.com and in the league office, he knew Meggie should have a meaningful opportunity in baseball. By the end of the World Series, her breakthrough job was in place. Selig personally told Meggie about the offer on a recent conference call that included Robinson. Meggie also will become a special envoy for Breaking Barriers to continue to share her experience and to encourage kids to write their own stories.
"It was a dream come true," Meggie said of the All-Star Game and World Series. "Now to be able to go and do that on a regular basis, I can't even imagine."
"MLB just keeps calling us and it's one thing after another -- getting to do all the things she has, the World Series and now this wonderful opportunity," Cindy Zahneis said. "She loves to write and loves baseball. She's had to struggle in her life with different things, but there have been a lot of positive things to keep her going. And this, obviously, I don't know how it can be topped."
On Thursday, Robinson announced that the Breaking Barriers essay contest was expanding to allow ninth-grade applicants to share their experiences.
Not only did Meggie get her entire school out of class for nearly an hour, her schoolmates can thank her for another bonus. While speaking, Reds chief operating officer Phil Castellini invited the entire school of about 600 students to a game at Great American Ball Park in April.
"The fact that she's from Cincinnati and a Reds fan, this is her accomplishment," Castellini said. "We're just blessed to be along for the ride with her. We're blessed it's our town she is from and she supports our team. This is a day for her, but my thought coming here was, 'Let's make it a special day for the whole school and just make what's she has done all the more the special, because more people will get to enjoy it with her.'"
During the event, Meggie presented Phillips with a special Breaking Barriers jersey with Jackie Robinson's No. 42 on the back.
"Amazing, especially as a Reds fan. I've always been a fan of him," Meggie said of Phillips earlier. "To get to meet him, it's absolutely amazing."
Now she will get to meet and speak with Reds players all season long. The next time, it will be part of her job.
That determination, and a charming personality, has not only given a life without limits, it's opened many doors. And the one she's about to walk through is a really big one.
Meggie, who penned the grand-prize-winning essay last summer in Major League Baseball's Breaking Barriers initiative, will become MLB.com's youth reporter and get to write stories about her hometown Cincinnati Reds and baseball at large.
"I am really blessed and really honored to be a part of something like this. It's a pretty cool feeling," Meggie said just before an assembly in her honor Thursday at the Lakota West Freshman School.
With several dignitaries representing the game, Major League Baseball held a presentation for Meggie to announce her new job featuring Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips and Sharon Robinson, the daughter of baseball icon Jackie Robinson and the founder of the Breaking Barriers program.
As about a dozen media members and MLB staffers entered the auditorium before her classmates, Meggie was poised and didn't shrink under the spotlight. She even embraced Phillips not long after he walked in and the two had an extended private conversation -- although at one point, Meggie couldn't help shouting to her father, "Dad, come meet Brandon Phillips!"
The two had interacted in the past at games or events, but Phillips didn't really meet her until Thursday.
"She said I was so nice to sign her autographs all the time," Phillips said. "There's something about her presence that just makes you want to smile. I feel like I can just sit around and talk with her all day. She's very well-spoken."
Breaking Barriers began in 1997, and each year it has held a contest for students in grades 4-8 to submit an essay about barriers or obstacles they faced, still face or overcame.
Meggie was born with a very rare disorder known as HSAN II (Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathy, type 2), which causes her to be unable to feel pain, temperature and touch like most people.
"With her disorder, there are not a lot of people that have it," said Meggie's mother, Cindy Zahneis. "So there is no one to look to to see what's going to happen or what's possible. I think she has pretty much exceeded what people thought might be possible."
Meggie is also 100 percent deaf, if not for the aid of her cochlear implants.
"It may not be on a baseball field, but I face many of the same social and emotional barriers that Jackie Robinson did," Meggie's winning essay read. "Every day, I try to make a conscious commitment to focus on the things I CAN do, and not the ones I can't. I like to think I have the determination to forge forward with my strengths and use them to the advantage of not only myself, but of other kids with special needs. It's my dream that someday, just like Mr. Robinson paved the way for African-Americans to play baseball, I can pave the way, through my writing, for other kids with special needs."
Meggie's essay was one of 10,000 received by Breaking Barriers this year. That large pool was broken down to 100 finalists. Meggie's was the clear winner, according to Robinson.
"First of all, she is a very good writer," Robinson said. "The focus of her essay was on doing what I can do. What she can do is write. It was such a positive essay and a positive spirit that came out, and a great message for kids in general -- and adults. I know adults who have been inspired by her story, as well. It's a message for everybody. Be fearless. Don't let anyone stop you or tell you that you can't do something. Be fearless and move past it. Be the best you can be."
Phillips was also impressed with the essay, especially the part about Meggie focusing her life on what she can do.
"It really inspired me," Phillips said. "It touched my heart and showed me people should look at the world different. You really don't know what people go through."
The grand prize was initially supposed to be a trip to the 2011 All-Star Game in Phoenix, but more opportunities soon came. Robinson and MLB asked Meggie to attend a game at the World Series in Arlington, and that was where she walked into the suite of Commissioner Allan H. "Bud" Selig.
Meggie has a way of making fast friends with people from all walks of life, and this one opened another door for her.
"I've brought a number of kids to the Commissioner's office for the Breaking Barriers contest. He met her very briefly at the All-Star Game, and I knew it wasn't enough," Robinson said. "I said I needed a picture of Meggie and the Commissioner together at the World Series for our program.
"[Selig] just embraced her immediately. What he didn't know was just how strong her knowledge was about baseball. The two of them sat down and fell into this conversation where they were laughing and talking. And they were talking baseball. When he called me, he said, 'I couldn't get her off my mind. She reminds me of [my daughter] Wendy when she was a young girl.' She was that interested in baseball and that knowledgeable."
Meggie impressed Selig in a profound way. With full support of the leadership at MLB.com and in the league office, he knew Meggie should have a meaningful opportunity in baseball. By the end of the World Series, her breakthrough job was in place. Selig personally told Meggie about the offer on a recent conference call that included Robinson. Meggie also will become a special envoy for Breaking Barriers to continue to share her experience and to encourage kids to write their own stories.
"It was a dream come true," Meggie said of the All-Star Game and World Series. "Now to be able to go and do that on a regular basis, I can't even imagine."
"MLB just keeps calling us and it's one thing after another -- getting to do all the things she has, the World Series and now this wonderful opportunity," Cindy Zahneis said. "She loves to write and loves baseball. She's had to struggle in her life with different things, but there have been a lot of positive things to keep her going. And this, obviously, I don't know how it can be topped."
On Thursday, Robinson announced that the Breaking Barriers essay contest was expanding to allow ninth-grade applicants to share their experiences.
Not only did Meggie get her entire school out of class for nearly an hour, her schoolmates can thank her for another bonus. While speaking, Reds chief operating officer Phil Castellini invited the entire school of about 600 students to a game at Great American Ball Park in April.
"The fact that she's from Cincinnati and a Reds fan, this is her accomplishment," Castellini said. "We're just blessed to be along for the ride with her. We're blessed it's our town she is from and she supports our team. This is a day for her, but my thought coming here was, 'Let's make it a special day for the whole school and just make what's she has done all the more the special, because more people will get to enjoy it with her.'"
During the event, Meggie presented Phillips with a special Breaking Barriers jersey with Jackie Robinson's No. 42 on the back.
"Amazing, especially as a Reds fan. I've always been a fan of him," Meggie said of Phillips earlier. "To get to meet him, it's absolutely amazing."
Now she will get to meet and speak with Reds players all season long. The next time, it will be part of her job.
2011年8月16日星期二
During lockout, Denver Nuggets' Nene stays in shape playing soccer
They play soccer on Thursdays, Denver's melting pot of footballers from Brazil, Argentina, Peru. It's a hodgepodge of muscular men, lithe ladies and one 6-foot-11 dude who somehow seems to fit in like he is 5-foot-11 — except when there's a header battle. Then, yeah, he's definitely 6-11.
"I'm like a normal person," Nene said. "Everyone is the same. I'm not special."
For the big Brazilian, soccer is his national pastime. And the longtime Nuggets center has been playing pickup matches in Denver parks this summer, a man-child playing his favorite childhood game.
"I feel more close to Brazil (when I play)," said Nene, a native of São Carlos, Brazil, who joined the Nuggets in 2002. "I miss it so much, and my friends live there. But I can come here and play soccer and enjoy it. It's a sport I love. I grew up playing soccer. And I just get to have some fun."
Last Thursday, Nene was in two natural habitats. He was playing soccer — while posting up a smaller, scrappy defender and demanding the ball near the goal.
It was a beautiful night for what they call the beautiful game. The air cooled as the sun slowly crept behind the mountains. Players shouted strategy to teammates in mutual languages, as if they were inadvertently talking in code to deter defenders.
"In Brazil, you're born and raised playing," said Nene's friend Felipe Eichenberger, also on the pitch that evening. "So this is just fun — and at the same time, you get some cardio."
They played the game passionately — like a street basketball game with cred on the line — and they played beautifully, with touch passes and savvy defense, including Nene, who showcased some pretty passes with his size 16s. Instead of using goalies, they play with smaller, movable goals to make it more difficult to score, as Nene discovered. With the ball glued to his boot, he spun his body to the right, faced the goal and unleashed a laser shot — which sailed over the goal, postponing the game while a poor sap retrieved the ball.
Nene, of course, has some free time.
"Right now, I have no job," he said with a little grin.
Indeed, the NBA players are locked out, and there aren't any signs this thing will be resolved anytime soon. Nene is exercising and even doing some martial arts workouts to stay in shape. And, of course, he gets in some cardio while playing soccer, though this ain't running up and down the court with Tim Duncan.
Whenever the NBA gets going again, Nene will be a free agent, after opting out of the final year of his Nuggets contract ($11.6 million). He reiterated that it's possible he could return to the Nuggets but suggested that one of the reasons he wants to play elsewhere is for a more immediate chance at a championship.
"After nine years, I have goals and I'm a team player," said Nene, who has averaged 12.3 points and 7.0 rebounds in his career. "I'm very competitive. I want to accomplish everything. It's a big opportunity, and it's the only one in my life to be a top free agent. So I want to enjoy this moment. If people think it's about money, they're wrong. I've saved my money. I could retire today. I don't need to prove points. I like it a lot here."
Indeed, the big guy has become part of the local mountain range. He even married a Colorado girl, and the couple had their first child, a baby boy, this summer.
"I stare at him all the time," the proud papa said. "It's just so cool."
Asked about possibly playing overseas, Nene said no.
"I'll do my cardio here, see my baby," he said. "I saved my money. I don't want to go to Europe. I want to enjoy my offseason. It's a magical time (with the baby)."
But on Thursdays and occasionally some other nights, the center slips away to play some striker.
"I'm like a normal person," Nene said. "Everyone is the same. I'm not special."
For the big Brazilian, soccer is his national pastime. And the longtime Nuggets center has been playing pickup matches in Denver parks this summer, a man-child playing his favorite childhood game.
"I feel more close to Brazil (when I play)," said Nene, a native of São Carlos, Brazil, who joined the Nuggets in 2002. "I miss it so much, and my friends live there. But I can come here and play soccer and enjoy it. It's a sport I love. I grew up playing soccer. And I just get to have some fun."
Last Thursday, Nene was in two natural habitats. He was playing soccer — while posting up a smaller, scrappy defender and demanding the ball near the goal.
It was a beautiful night for what they call the beautiful game. The air cooled as the sun slowly crept behind the mountains. Players shouted strategy to teammates in mutual languages, as if they were inadvertently talking in code to deter defenders.
"In Brazil, you're born and raised playing," said Nene's friend Felipe Eichenberger, also on the pitch that evening. "So this is just fun — and at the same time, you get some cardio."
They played the game passionately — like a street basketball game with cred on the line — and they played beautifully, with touch passes and savvy defense, including Nene, who showcased some pretty passes with his size 16s. Instead of using goalies, they play with smaller, movable goals to make it more difficult to score, as Nene discovered. With the ball glued to his boot, he spun his body to the right, faced the goal and unleashed a laser shot — which sailed over the goal, postponing the game while a poor sap retrieved the ball.
Nene, of course, has some free time.
"Right now, I have no job," he said with a little grin.
Indeed, the NBA players are locked out, and there aren't any signs this thing will be resolved anytime soon. Nene is exercising and even doing some martial arts workouts to stay in shape. And, of course, he gets in some cardio while playing soccer, though this ain't running up and down the court with Tim Duncan.
Whenever the NBA gets going again, Nene will be a free agent, after opting out of the final year of his Nuggets contract ($11.6 million). He reiterated that it's possible he could return to the Nuggets but suggested that one of the reasons he wants to play elsewhere is for a more immediate chance at a championship.
"After nine years, I have goals and I'm a team player," said Nene, who has averaged 12.3 points and 7.0 rebounds in his career. "I'm very competitive. I want to accomplish everything. It's a big opportunity, and it's the only one in my life to be a top free agent. So I want to enjoy this moment. If people think it's about money, they're wrong. I've saved my money. I could retire today. I don't need to prove points. I like it a lot here."
Indeed, the big guy has become part of the local mountain range. He even married a Colorado girl, and the couple had their first child, a baby boy, this summer.
"I stare at him all the time," the proud papa said. "It's just so cool."
Asked about possibly playing overseas, Nene said no.
"I'll do my cardio here, see my baby," he said. "I saved my money. I don't want to go to Europe. I want to enjoy my offseason. It's a magical time (with the baby)."
But on Thursdays and occasionally some other nights, the center slips away to play some striker.
2011年8月2日星期二
Renteira's slam lifts Reds over Astros
Wandy Rodriguez is Houston's career leader for strikeouts by a left-hander. Unfortunately for Rodriguez and the Astros, one bad inning put a damper on milestone.
Rodriguez gave up five runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by Edgar Renteria's ninth career grand slam, and the Astros lost 5-1 to the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night.
Cincinnati was struggling offensively before two doubles, two walks -- including one to Reds starter Homer Bailey -- and Renteria's second homer of the season put the Reds ahead 5-0 and led to Rodriguez's departure after just 78 pitches.
Rodriguez (7-8) said he felt soreness in his back toward his right shoulder before the game, but the discomfort did not factor into his performance.
"That's not an excuse," said Rodriguez, who did not bring up the back issue until asked. "I threw my first four innings. I felt sore earlier in the bullpen, but that's no excuse. I felt sore all game, but I could throw the ball."
Astros manager Brad Mills agreed with Rodriguez's assessment.
"That one inning did him in," Mills said. "The first four innings he gave up one hit and was throwing the ball extremely well. That fifth inning, the big at-bat was the one to the pitcher, ended up walking him on nine pitches. He is OK. He had a little knot or something in his right side (of his back).
"He said he was fine and through the first four innings threw the ball really well."
A day after edging the Reds 4-3 in extra innings, the Astros' new-look lineup mustered just one run and five hits, going 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position.
Houston lost for the ninth time in 12 games but did get four innings of two-hit ball from relievers Aneury Rodriguez, David Carpenter and Enerio del Rosario.
"It was nice to see the bullpen again come through with four shutout innings," Mills said.
Bailey (6-5), who grew up about 100 miles west of Houston in La Grange, allowed one run and five hits in eight innings. He struck out four and walked three.
Recently acquired Luis Durango singled in Jimmy Paredes in the fifth for Houston's only run.
"Two of the times he's thrown really well have been here, and I know he's from Texas," Mills said of Bailey. "So that might have something to do with it; I don't know."
Rodriguez, who has played his entire major league career with the Astros, struck out Drew Stubbs with his signature curveball in the third inning for his 947th career strikeout, passing Bob Knepper for the team's lefty lead.
Chris Heisey and Ramon Hernandez sparked Cincinnati's big inning with consecutive doubles, making it 1-0. After Todd Frazier grounded out, Bailey and Stubbs walked to load the bases for Renteria, who hit a 1-0 fastball into the Crawford Boxes in left field.
Renteria entered the game hitting .357 against Rodriguez, who left after the fifth.
"In the fifth inning you see I threw a lot of close pitches to home plate and (the umpire) didn't call them," Rodriguez said. "When I got behind I tried to throw strikes and the guys hit the ball."
The at-bat that irked Rodriguez the most was the one against Bailey.
"I threw a lot of fastballs and he got a little contact for foul ball, foul ball, foul ball," Rodriguez said. "On 3-2, I tried to make it like a breaking ball for a strike and I threw a little bit down, and he didn't swing."
."I wanted to make the out in this situation."
Rodriguez gave up five runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by Edgar Renteria's ninth career grand slam, and the Astros lost 5-1 to the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night.
Cincinnati was struggling offensively before two doubles, two walks -- including one to Reds starter Homer Bailey -- and Renteria's second homer of the season put the Reds ahead 5-0 and led to Rodriguez's departure after just 78 pitches.
Rodriguez (7-8) said he felt soreness in his back toward his right shoulder before the game, but the discomfort did not factor into his performance.
"That's not an excuse," said Rodriguez, who did not bring up the back issue until asked. "I threw my first four innings. I felt sore earlier in the bullpen, but that's no excuse. I felt sore all game, but I could throw the ball."
Astros manager Brad Mills agreed with Rodriguez's assessment.
"That one inning did him in," Mills said. "The first four innings he gave up one hit and was throwing the ball extremely well. That fifth inning, the big at-bat was the one to the pitcher, ended up walking him on nine pitches. He is OK. He had a little knot or something in his right side (of his back).
"He said he was fine and through the first four innings threw the ball really well."
A day after edging the Reds 4-3 in extra innings, the Astros' new-look lineup mustered just one run and five hits, going 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position.
Houston lost for the ninth time in 12 games but did get four innings of two-hit ball from relievers Aneury Rodriguez, David Carpenter and Enerio del Rosario.
"It was nice to see the bullpen again come through with four shutout innings," Mills said.
Bailey (6-5), who grew up about 100 miles west of Houston in La Grange, allowed one run and five hits in eight innings. He struck out four and walked three.
Recently acquired Luis Durango singled in Jimmy Paredes in the fifth for Houston's only run.
"Two of the times he's thrown really well have been here, and I know he's from Texas," Mills said of Bailey. "So that might have something to do with it; I don't know."
Rodriguez, who has played his entire major league career with the Astros, struck out Drew Stubbs with his signature curveball in the third inning for his 947th career strikeout, passing Bob Knepper for the team's lefty lead.
Chris Heisey and Ramon Hernandez sparked Cincinnati's big inning with consecutive doubles, making it 1-0. After Todd Frazier grounded out, Bailey and Stubbs walked to load the bases for Renteria, who hit a 1-0 fastball into the Crawford Boxes in left field.
Renteria entered the game hitting .357 against Rodriguez, who left after the fifth.
"In the fifth inning you see I threw a lot of close pitches to home plate and (the umpire) didn't call them," Rodriguez said. "When I got behind I tried to throw strikes and the guys hit the ball."
The at-bat that irked Rodriguez the most was the one against Bailey.
"I threw a lot of fastballs and he got a little contact for foul ball, foul ball, foul ball," Rodriguez said. "On 3-2, I tried to make it like a breaking ball for a strike and I threw a little bit down, and he didn't swing."
."I wanted to make the out in this situation."
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