Tuesday, 28 December 2010
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Jaguars Call Players-Only Meeting
Filed under: Jaguars, AFC South
The Jacksonville Jaguars' focus this week is partly on the postseason.
But mostly, it's about finishing strong.
Toward that end, veteran cornerback Rashean Mathis called a players-only meeting Monday with one focus: not finishing the season on a losing streak.
"Obviously, we'll be pulling for the Titans, but it's really more about us finishing strong right now," Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio told reporters Monday.
That was the prevailing theme around the Jaguars' facility Monday -- that although the Jaguars will be pulling for the Tennessee Titans to beat the Indianapolis Colts Sunday and give Jacksonville a chance at a playoff appearances, there is a more important priority:
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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/12/27/jaguars-call-players-only-meeting/
Monday, 27 December 2010
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No Loan for Landon Donovan This Winter
Filed under: MLS, English Premier League, U.S. Men's National Team, Los Angeles Galaxy
Fatigued following a very busy year that included the World Cup, a long season with the Los Angeles Galaxy and his successful loan to Everton, Landon Donovan announced Tuesday afternoon that he won't be heading over to Europe during the current MLS offseason and that he'll focus on resting and preparing for the 2011 campaign.
Recent reports had linked the U.S. national team star to Newcastle United, Fulham and, of course, the Toffees (plus Manchester City over the summer).
"While I enjoyed my time at Everton last season and still appreciate all the support their fans have given me, I feel that it is important to continue to rest and recover this offseason as opposed to going on loan," Donovan said.
"I never considered being loaned to a club other than Everton, but I have been playing nearly non-stop for the past two years and I believe that this decision will allow me to perform at my best for the Galaxy and the national team throughout the upcoming year."
Donovan, 28, signed a new four-year contract with L.A. last December that pays him $2.1 million per year.
This year he played 10 games at Everton, eight with the national team and at least 29 with the Galaxy (not counting U.S. Open Cup and exhibitions). He spent January 2009 at Bayern Munich.
He was named U.S. Soccer athlete of the year on Monday.
"We think in the best interest of the club and the player that Landon continues his postseason break and begins preparations for what will be a challenging year in 2011 at both the domestic and international levels," Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said.
L.A. qualified for the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League, scheduled to take place next fall, by virtue of winning the MLS Supporters Shield last season.
The Galaxy are committed to keeping David Beckham around for the entire MLS season as well.
Following the English midfielder's comments over the weekend that he was interested in a stint in Europe that might keep him on Fabio Capello's national team radar, L.A. issued this statement to the Associated Press:
"We are not aware that David is looking to be loaned to any other team and we are fully expecting he reports with the rest of his Galaxy teammates in late January for the upcoming season."
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Source: http://soccer.fanhouse.com/2010/12/21/no-loan-for-landon-donovan-this-winter/
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Kings Get Hot Again in December
Filed under: Kings
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Los Angeles is so far a team of months -- a great October, a poor November, a terrific December.
So which team is this? Are the Kings the bunch that barely loses and that just lost focus for one month? Or are they a team unable to find consistency?
Head coach Terry Murray said after his team's skate Monday at HP Pavilion that November's dip -- which included a 1-7 slide to end the month -- was all mental. It's a young squad, and the hot start, going 8-3 in October, might have had an undesired effect.
"The mental commitment fell off there, the attitude after getting off to a great start," Murray said, adding that maybe the team "read press clippings too much."
Veteran forward Ryan Smyth is, at 34, the Kings' oldest player, and agreed that during what he called the November "lull," the team wasn't doing the little things right, and, he said, "We got away from playing a full 60 minutes."Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Source: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2010/12/27/kings-get-hot-again-in-december/
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Hawaii Joins Mountain West Conference for Football, Big West for Other Sports
by FanHouse NewswireFiled under: Hawaii, Mountain West, WAC, Sports Business and Media
HONOLULU (AP) -- The University of Hawaii is joining the Mountain West Conference for football and the Big West in other sports, abandoning the Western Athletic Conference after 32 years.
School President M.R.C. Greenwood said Friday that Hawaii will make the move in 2012, following Boise State, Nevada and Fresno State to the MWC.
The four schools represent the top football programs in the WAC, which is adding Texas-San Antonio, Texas State and the University of Denver on July 1, 2012. Denver doesn't have a football team.
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School leaders at the MWC and Big West voted unanimously in favor of inviting Hawaii, which has been in the WAC since 1979.
