E. Evertsz, redaktor pa Deporte Awe

May 18, 2012

Courage Campaign Celebrates Pacquiao Apology

The Courage Campaign, an online progressive organizing network with over 750,000 members, today celebrated boxer Manny Pacquiao’s apology to the LGBT community for his anti-gay remarks. His apology came after the campaign mobilized a large, swift public response to the fighter’s statements.

“To the gay community, I apologize. I’m against same sex marriage, but I’m not condemning you. My favorite verse is ‘Love one another as you love yourself. Love your neighbor.’ So, I love everybody!” stated Pacquiao in an interview on “Extra.”

Moreover, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. made the following statement on Twitter: “I stand behind President Obama and support gay marriage. I’m an American citizen and I believe people should live their life the way they want.”

Courage Campaign Chair Rick Jacobs said, “Pacquiao came out for gay people. Mayweather came out for gay people and marriage. We look forward to the day that Pacquiao will complete the journey that President Obama and so many others are on and realize that love is love — that marriage is civil and in no way affects one’s religious beliefs. When public figures talk to their fans, and to all of us, about supporting gay people and same sex marriage, it’s is a huge victory.”

May 18, 2012

Golden Boy Promotions Signs World Champion Johan Perez And Former Amateur Star Julian Ramirez

The best roster in boxing added to its luster this week with Golden Boy Promotions’ signing of current WBA Interim Super Lightweight World Champion Johan Perez and unbeaten former amateur standout Julian Ramirez to multi-year promotional agreements.

“This is a big day for us and I’m proud to have these two boxers fighting for us now,” said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. “Boxing will never grow if we don’t keep cultivating new talent and in Johan and Julian, we’ve signed two fighters that you’re going to be hearing a lot about in the months and years to come.”

A 28-year-old native of Caracas, Venezuela, Johan Perez (15-0-1, 12 KO’s) turned professional in 2005 and rang up five consecutive knockout victories. Following a two-year layoff resulting from the lack of professional boxing events being promoted in Venezuela, he returned in 2009 and steam-rolled through all comers, with the only blemish on his record being a 2011 draw with 16-0 fellow prospect Alberto Mosquera. Along the way, Perez fought anyone, anywhere, with stops in Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, England and Mexico garnering him a solid fanbase and the WBA Fedecentro and WBA Fedelatin super lightweight titles. In October of 2011, he stunned highly-regarded Kenny Galarza with a fourth round technical knockout victory and less than two months later, he won the WBA Interim Super Lightweight World Championship with a fourth round stoppage of Fernando Castaneda, setting the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable future.

19-year-old Julian Ramirez (2-0, 2 KO’s) hails from Alhambra, Calif. and, as the nephew of the late, great Genaro “Chicanito” Hernandez, this talented teenager undoubtedly has boxing in his blood. A long-time amateur standout, Ramirez compiled a record of 73-5 en route to racking up 10 tournament titles including four World Desert Showdown titles, four National PAL titles, one Junior Olympics Championship and the 2011 Mexico Games Championship. In February of this year, he made his professional debut with a first round knockout win over Javier Damien. Two months later, Salvador Cifuentes suffered the same fate, lasting just 80 seconds with the hard-hitting Ramirez, who has ‘star’ written all over him.

Both fighters’ first fights under the Golden Boy Promotions banner will be announced at a later date.

May 16, 2012

Preliminary interest shown for UEFA EURO 2020 bid

UEFA today announced that, within the 15 May deadline that was set by the UEFA Executive Committee at its March meeting, some national associations have expressed their interest in the bidding process for the organisation of the UEFA European Football Championship 2020.

Consequently, and in accordance with the decision of its Executive Committee and as presented to the UEFA Congress, UEFA will now launch a formal process which will allow any of its 53 members associations to submit their candidature, irrespective of whether or not they declared a preliminary interest in hosting the 24-team competition.

The bidding process will last approximately 18 months to allow candidates to elaborate their bid dossiers. A detailed timeline will be developed in the coming weeks and will be submitted, along with proposed bid regulations, to UEFA’s Executive Committee on the occasion of its next meeting on 30 June in Kyiv.

A decision on the hosts can be expected at the beginning of 2014, with the exact time-frame still to be decided.

May 16, 2012

New York Mets Awarded the 2013 All-Star Game

Mets Will Host Midsummer Classic for Second Time; Ninth for New York City

NEW YORK, NY – The New York Mets have been awarded Major League Baseball’s 2013 All-Star Game and will host the 84^th Midsummer Classic at Citi Field, Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig announced today at a press conference at City Hall. Commissioner Selig was joined by the Mayor of New York, the Honorable Michael R. Bloomberg, and New York Mets Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Fred Wilpon.

The 2013 All-Star Game will mark the second time that the Mets, who are commemorating their 50^th anniversary in 2012, will host the Midsummer Classic. Shea Stadium hosted the 1964 All-Star Game, a 7-4 National League victory that featured 21 participating Hall of Famers, including Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Sandy Koufax, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Frank Robinson, as well as MLB’s Executive Vice President for Baseball Operations, Joe Torre. (Highlights of the 1964 All-Star Game at Shea Stadium are available here, courtesy of MLB Productions: http://atmlb.com/JjiQ9W.) It will be the ninth All-Star Game in Baseball history to be played in New York City, which is the most of any host city.

Commissioner Selig said: “As we celebrate the franchise’s golden anniversary this year, I am pleased to award the 2013 All-Star Game to the New York Mets and their loyal fans. We are delighted to bring the Midsummer Classic to Citi Field, a wonderful ballpark that has carried on the remarkable National League tradition in New York City. The Mets will be superb hosts to next summer’s greatest sporting event.”

“Thanks to the efforts of Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Selig, it’s a great honor for everyone at the Mets to host the 2013 All-Star Game at Citi Field,” Wilpon said. “Mets fans and all people in the New York tri-state area and beyond will have the opportunity to take part in the events that Major League Baseball will bring to New York.”

“Next year’s All-Star Game is going to demonstrate once again that there’s no place like New York for world-class sporting events,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Major League Baseball clearly recognizes this, since they’re bringing the All-Star Game back to New York for the second time in just five years.”

The 84^th All-Star Game is tentatively scheduled to be played at Citi Field on Tuesday, July 16, 2013. Further details on the history of the Mets and the Midsummer Classic are available in the accompanying Fact Sheet.

May 16, 2012May 16, 2012

Courage Campaign Encouraged That Manny Pacquiao Revises Anti-Gay Statement

Los Angeles – The Courage Campaign, an online progressive organizing network with over 750,000 members, was encouraged today that its mobilization of a large, swift public response to Manny Pacquiao’s anti-gay remarks forced him to revise his statement.

In a recent interview with Examiner.com, the boxer expressed his opposition to President Obama’s support for marriage equality. “God only expects man and woman to be together and to be legally married, only if they so are in love with each other. It should not be of the same sex so as to adulterate the altar of matrimony, like in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah of Old.”

The article also contained an interpretation of Mr. Pacquiao’s position on homosexuality which, after Courage Campaign members expressed consternation, was later “corrected” by both the reporter and Mr. Pacquiao.

In response, Courage founder and Chair Rick Jacobs stated, “Mr. Pacquiao clearly does not believe in equality and dignity for same-sex couples. I think that American sponsors are going to have to look very carefully at whether they can continue to pour money into his apparently empty soul. He makes a lot of money thanks to the United States and sponsors here.”

Once the Courage Campaign called for Nike to drop Pacquiao, the campaign received more than 20,000 signatures and thousands of likes and comments on Facebook. #DropManny and #MannyPacquiao also became trending topics on Twitter.

The onslaught of criticism prompted Pacquiao to revise his statement. “I only voiced out my opinion that same-sex marriage is against the law of God. I’m not against homosexuals. I have a relative who is also gay. We cannot do anything if they were born that way. What I do not want is when you disobey the commandment of God.”

Jacobs stated, “We think this is a positive step in the right direction, even though Mr. Pacquiao clearly does not yet believe gay and lesbian people are equal. We hope this helps his own journey, the same one that brought President Obama last week to support full equality for LGBT people. Public figures such as Mr. Pacquiao need to watch their words carefully because, like a well-aimed jab, they can hurt deeply. We will continue to hold public figures, especially elected ones, and their sponsors accountable for their statements.”

May 14, 2012

St. Louis’ Carlos Beltran named National League Player of the Week

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Carlos Beltran has been named the National League Player of the Week for the period ending May 13th. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.

In six games last week, Beltran hit .360 (9-for-25) while leading the National League with six home runs, 13 RBI, eight runs scored, 30 total bases and a 1.200 slugging percentage. The Manati, Puerto Rico native collected hits in five of the Cards’ six games last week and homered in four of them.

On Friday, he tied a career-high with four hits (done 22 times — last on 5/2/2012 vs. PIT), clubbing two homers, a double and a triple with four RBI in a losing effort as visiting Atlanta won the 12-inning affair, 9-7. Beltran’s 13 total bases on the day set a new career-best, eclipsing his previous high of 12, accomplished May 12, 2011 as a member of the New York Mets. The 13 total bases were the most in a single game by a Major League switch-hitter since Chipper Jones accomplished the feat on August 14, 2006 at Washington.

Only two National League switch-hitters have collected more total bases in a single game: fellow Cardinals outfielder Mark Whiten (16 on 9/7/1993 at Cincinnati) and Cincinnati third baseman Pete Rose (14 on 4/29/1978 at New York Mets).

On Tuesday, Beltran drove in all six Redbird runs as the Cardinals defeated the Diamondbacks, 6-1, in the second game of a three-game set at Arizona. It was the 35-year-old’s fifth career six-RBI performance and his second of the 2012 campaign after collecting a career-high seven RBI on May 2nd vs. Pittsburgh. He is the first Cardinal to have both a six-RBI and a seven-RBI game in a single season since Albert Pujols in 2009.

The 13-year veteran currently leads the National League with 13 home runs and is tied for the league-lead with 32 RBI. This is his ninth career weekly award and sixth as a National Leaguer.

Other noteworthy performances last week included Beltran’s teammates Rafael Furcal (.667, 14 H, 4 R, 2 SB, .696 OBP) and Allen Craig (.348, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 5 R); Cincinnati’s Joey Votto (.429, 4 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 1.048 SLG), who became the first player in the live-ball era to finish a three-homer game with a walk-off grand slam; Andre Ethier (.455, 4 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 5 R) of the Los Angeles Dodgers; Washington’s Adam LaRoche (.450, 3 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .900 SLG, .577 OBP); Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen (.524, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 5 R, 1.000 SLG); Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton (.360, 2 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI) and Carlos Zambrano (1-0, 0.56 ERA, CG, SHO, 16 SO, 16.0 IP); David Wright (.481, 4 2B, HR, 7 RBI, 13 H, .517 OBP) of the New York Mets; and San Diego’s Dale Thayer (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 3 SV, 4 SO, 3.0 IP).

In recognition of his National League Player of the Week Award, Carlos Beltran will be awarded a watch courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com.

May 14, 2012

Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers named American League Player of the Week

Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton, who became just the 16th player in Major League history to hit four homers in a game on Tuesday, has been named the American League Player of the Week for the period ending May 13th. This is Josh’s second career weekly honor (last on 6/24/2010). The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.

Hamilton turned in one of the greatest weeks of all-time, highlighted by Tuesday’s performance, in which he went 5-for-5 at the plate with four home runs, a double, eight RBI and an A.L.-record 18 total bases in a 10-3 Rangers’ victory at Oriole Park at Camden ards. The four-homer performance was a first for the Rangers and it was the Majors’ first four-home run game since Toronto’s Carlos Delgado on September 25, 2003. It marked the 30-year-old’s sixth career multi-homer game, and the first time that he homered more than twice in a game. Hamilton’s eight RBI also shattered his previous career best of five (three times), which he last accomplished in an April 17th tilt against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Along with his four homers, the left-handed hitting slugger added a fifth-inning double to give him 18 total bases on the night, eclipsing the previous league mark of 16 (last by Delgado on 9/25/2003). It was the most total bases tallied in a single game throughout baseball since Shawn Green of the Los Angeles Dodgers notched 19 (1B, 2B, 4 HR) against the Milwaukee Brewers on May 23, 2002.

Since 1962, only three other players in addition to Green and Hamilton have racked up five extra-base hits in a game – the Indians’ Kelly Shoppach (3 2B, 2 HR on 7/30/2008); the Dodgers’ Steve Garvey (3 2B, 2 HR on 8/28/1977) and the Pirates’ Willie Stargell (3 2B, 2 HR on 8/1/1970).

The first overall pick in the 1999 First-Year Player Draft also homered in his final at-bat the previous night to become the first player since Ken Griffey, Jr. on July 1-2, 1998 to collect extra-base hits in six straight at-bats and the first with five homers in six at-bats since Green on May 23-24, 2002. On Friday, Hamilton notched his second multi-homer game of the week, going 3-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs in a 10-3 win over the visiting Angels. In a loss to the Angels on Saturday afternoon, Hamilton homered for the third consecutive game, marking the second time this season he has accomplished the feat.

According to Elias, Hamilton became the third player in Major League history to collect nine home runs and 15 RBI over a six-game stretch, joining Green (nine & 17; May 21-26, 2002) and Washington’s Frank Howard (10 & 17; May 12-18, 1968).

On Sunday night, his three-RBI effort led the way to a 13-6 victory for the Rangers in the rubber match of their three-game set with the Halos. The 2010 A.L. Most Valuable Player wrapped up the week with a .467 (14-for-30) batting average, two doubles, nine homers, 18 RBI and 10 runs scored in seven games.

The six-year veteran finished tops in the Majors in home runs, RBI, slugging percentage (1.433) and total bases (43) this week, and ranked tied for first in runs scored and hits.

The four-time All-Star is off to an outstanding start to the 2012 season, leading the Majors with a .402 batting average, 18 home runs and 44 RBI.

Other noteworthy performances last week included Oakland’s Brandon Inge (.286, 3 HR, 12 RBI) and Josh Reddick (.417, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 7 R); Robinson Cano (.500, 3 2B, HR, 6 RBI) and Raul Ibañez (.353, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 1.118 SLG) of the New York Yankees; Boston’s Dustin Pedroia (.393, 4 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 8 R); and Minnesota’s Scott Diamond (2-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 BB, 10 SO, 14.0 IP).

In recognition of his American League Player of the Week Award, Josh Hamilton will be awarded a watch courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com.

May 14, 2012May 14, 2012

Devers, O’Brien, Temple, Connolly selected to U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame

Four track and field greats are among the 10 individuals and one team to be inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame presented by Allstate Class of 2012.

Olympic gold medalists Gail Devers, Dan O’Brien and James Connolly and coach Ed Temple are among those to be inducted as members of the 15th class. Also selected into the Olympic Hall of Fame were Jean Driscoll (Paralympic track & field), Gary Hall, Jr. (swimming), Lisa Fernandez (softball), Kristine Lilly (soccer), Jenny Thompson (swimming), the 2004 U.S. Olympic women’s softball team and Ted Stevens (special contributor). The Class of 2012 will be inducted into the Hall of Fame July 12 in Chicago.

“The Class of 2012 inductees have provided fans of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams with countless inspiring moments, and it’s an honor to welcome them to the U.S Olympic Hall of Fame, where both their achievements and impact will be celebrated,” said Scott Blackmun, USOC Chief Executive Officer. “Together with Allstate and fans of Team USA, we congratulate them on their accomplishments and thank them for their commitment to the Olympic and Paralympic movements.”

Gail Devers
The career of Gail Devers was one of perseverance and dominance in women’s track and field. With a career that saw her compete until the age of 40, Devers is a three-time Olympic gold medalist and 13-time World Indoor and Outdoor medalist. In 1991, near the beginning of her career, she was diagnosed with Graves’ disease and began radiation treatment as doctors threatened to amputate her feet. Devers recovered to become one of the most dominant sprinters and hurdlers of her time. The 1992 and 1996 Olympic gold medalist in the 100 meters, she was the first woman since Wyomia Tyus to successfully defend the dash. At the World Outdoor Championships she won three gold medals in the 100m hurdles (‘93, ‘95, ‘99) along with a gold medal in the 100m in 1993 and 4x100m in 1997. She won World Indoor Championships gold three times in the 60m (‘93, ‘97, ‘04) and one in the 60m hurdles (‘03). In 2007, at the age of 40, Devers won the 60m hurdles at the Millrose Games in 7.86 seconds, which was the fastest time in the world that year. A 10-time USA outdoor 100m hurdles champion, she is a two-time winner of the ESPY for Women’s Track & Field Athlete of the Year. She was inducted into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame in 2011.

Dan O’Brien
One of the decathlon’s most celebrated athletes, O’Brien is an Olympic gold medalist, former world record holder and the most highly ranked decathlete of his generation. A five-time U.S. champion, O’Brien won Olympic gold at the 1996 Games in Atlanta with 8,824 points for his 11th consecutive decathlon win since September 1992. He avenged a no-height performance in the pole vault at the 1992 Olympic Trials – which kept him off the U.S. Olympic team – to set the then world (and existing American) record later in 1992 with 8,891 points in Talence, France, bettering his previous WR of 8,812 set in 1991. The world decathlon champion in 1991, 1993 and 1995, O’Brien earned the year-end world #1 ranking from Track & Field News on six occasions and finished in the top ten of T&FN’s World Athlete of the Year voting four times during his career. He was inducted into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame in 2006.

James Connolly
Connolly will forever be known as the first gold medalist of the modern Olympic Games. His gold medal in the triple jump at the 1896 Olympic Games in Athens was the first of four Olympic medals Connolly would win. He claimed silver in the high jump and bronze in the long jump in Athens as well before winning silver in the triple jump at the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris.

Ed Temple
A 1989 inductee of the National Track & Field Hall of Fame, Temple and his athletes redefined women’s sprinting. In 1953 he became head women’s coach at Tennessee State University and gave the team the name “Tigerbelles.” Under his tutelage, Tigerbelle athletes won 23 Olympic medals, 13 of them gold. His Olympic championships included Wilma Rudolph, Mae Faggs, Wyomia Tyus, Edith McGuire and Madeline Manning Mims, who all belong to the National Track & Field Hall of Fame. Temple served as the head coach of the U.S. Olympic women’s team in both 1960 and 1964 and was an assistant coach in 1980. He was also head women’s coach for the 1958 and 1959 dual meets between the USA and the USSR, and was also head women’s coach at the 1959 and 1975 Pan-American Games.

About the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame
Determined by members of the Olympic Family and through a fan voting process, the Class of 2012 is the 15th class to be inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame presented by Allstate and will bring the total membership to 96 Olympians, five Paralympians, 10 teams, four coaches, 10 veterans, 16 contributors and two Olive Branch award inductees.

The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Class of 2012 will be formally introduced and honored on July 12 during an awards ceremony at the Harris Theater in Chicago. The ceremony, hosted by Jimmy Roberts and Alex Flanagan, will air in a nationally-televised broadcast on NBC Sports Network on August 24 at 7 p.m. ET.

May 12, 2012

Cubs place RHP Carlos Marmol on 15-day disabled list

The Chicago Cubs today placed right-handed pitcher Carlos Marmol on the 15-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain. In a corresponding move, right-handed pitcher Casey Coleman has been recalled from Triple-A Iowa.

Coleman, who will wear uniform number 27, has gone 2-3 with a 3.48 ERA (13 ER/33.2 IP) in seven games (six starts) for Iowa this season. He has walked 16 and struck out 30 while limiting opponents to a .205 batting average (25-for-122), including a .189 mark (10-for-53) by right-handed hitters. Coleman has allowed two or fewer earned runs in each of his last five starts, including his most recent outing, May 7 vs. New Orleans in which he tossed 7.0 shutout innings.

The 24-year-old Coleman is 7-11 with a 5.48 ERA (86 ER/141.1 IP) in 31 major league games (25 starts) for Chicago since making his debut in 2010. In four stints with the Cubs last season, he was 3-9 with a 6.40 ERA (60 ER/84.1 IP) in 19 games (17 starts).

Coleman was selected by Chicago in the 15th round of the 2008 Draft, and has gone 35-21 with a 3.69 ERA (176 ER/429.0 IP) in 79 career minor league games, all but four as a starter.

Coleman’s father, Joe, played professionally from 1965-79, boasting a trip to the All-Star Game in 1972 with the Tigers. His grandfather, Joe, had a 10-year major league career (1942-55) including an All-Star season in 1948 with the Philadelphia Athletics. The Colemans are the only family featuring three generations of pitchers in major league history.

Marmol, 29, is 0-1 with two saves and a 6.35 ERA (8 ER/11.1 IP) in 15 relief appearances for the Cubs this season.

May 12, 2012

Orioles acquire minor league LHP Mike Belfiore from Arizona to complete Josh Bell trade

The Orioles today announced that they have acquired minor league LHP MIKE BELFIORE from the Arizona Diamondbacks and assigned him to Double-A Bowie to complete the trade that saw INF JOSH BELL go to Arizona.

Belfiore, 23, was a first round sandwich selection (45^th overall) in the 2009 First Year Player Draft. He pitched to a 2.37 ERA (19.0IP, 5ER), recording one save, striking out 28 and walking five for Class-A Visalia this season.