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erald Ford, who was there for the coin toss, stood between Royal and Switzer in the tunnel.[Ford] was trying to carry on a conve
erald Ford, who was there for the coin toss, stood between Royal and Switzer in the tunnel.[Ford] was trying to carry on a conve
in Fragen 26.03.2018 12:58von t123 • 2.563 Beiträge
GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Amare Stoudemire will go into next season with $45 million left on his contract and no guarantee of a starting job. He also could remain a reserve who plays restricted minutes. Searching for ways to improve next season, the New York Knicks could use a reliable second scorer and dependable low-post option. They have no way of knowing if Stoudemire can provide either because of his knees. "Hes a heck of a player and I think we all know that. The question is his health and how much he can play," general manager Glen Grunwald said Tuesday. "So weve got our medical staff and training staff working with him to design an off-season program that will get him to full health, and we hope hell be able to play significant minutes for us next year. How much that will be, we dont know at this time." Stoudemire was limited to just 29 games in the regular season and four brief appearances in the post-season because of a pair of knee surgeries. Following a 54-28 finish and their first playoff series victory since 2000, improvement wont be easy for the Knicks. Their options will be limited by salary cap rules, and its unclear if they even want to make many changes. Grunwald agreed with players that the best strategy might be giving this seasons roster more time together. "Our focus is to continue to build this core team," Grunwald said in a rare meeting with reporters. "I think some continuity, some familiarization, further growth as individual and as a team, I think thats what we have to do." That could mean re-signing sixth man J.R. Smith if he becomes a free agent, though Grunwald wouldnt comment on specific plans. He also said 40-year-old Jason Kidd, who has two years left on his deal, gave no indication during his exit meeting that he planned to retire after a dismal post-season. Grunwald said the Knicks wont be allowed to acquire players in sign-and-trade deals and have only the exception for taxpaying teams, starting at about $3.2 million next season. They wont get much top talent for that, but they would if Stoudemire could come back and play at anywhere near his former All-Star level. He has to show the Knicks he can be healthy before showing them he deserves to start again. "I havent made that decision. Ill have the summer to kind of evaluate where I go with that, but I think first things first, hes got to come back healthy," coach Mike Woodson said. "I mean, that is the major part of this. Our struggles in terms of where we wanted to go this season was the fact that we had the injury with STAT. STAT was ready I thought when he came in, but he got hurt. "A lot is going to depend on where he is once he steps foot in vet camp in terms of where he is health-wise and minute restrictions, that may be the case. All of thats going to play a major role in STAT in terms of where we go with our ballclub and him playing, because I just dont know at this point." Stoudemire worked hard last summer following an injury-plagued 2011-12 season, training with Hakeem Olajuwon to add low-post moves. But he had surgery to clean up and remove tissue from his left knee in training camp and was sidelined until New Years Day. He was playing well in March but then ended up needing the same procedure, called a debridement, on the other knee. He returned for the second round but was clearly rusty and played just 33 minutes, Woodson hardly using him in the final two games. The Knicks didnt get nearly enough scoring in the paint against Indiana, something a healthy Stoudemire could have changed. "I think STAT ... couldve really helped us in that area because we had developed him over the summer to give us some low scoring, and the fact that he just wasnt, I dont think, where we needed him based on his injuries, that kind of hurt us a little bit," Woodson said, acknowledging the Knicks were a jump-shooting team this season and may have to look at adding someone with a low-post game. The Knicks gave Stoudemire a five-year deal worth nearly $100 million in 2010, but hes been unable to remain healthy. He and Carmelo Anthony havent played enough to be comfortable and productive together, and when Stoudemire was sidelined to start the season, Woodson moved Anthony to Stoudemires power forward spot. Anthony ended up winning his first scoring title and the Knicks their first division title since 1994. Once Stoudemire returned, he was limited at first to about 20 minutes a game, which was gradually increased to 30 before he was hurt again. Woodson never seemed to consider starting him, even when frontcourt injuries left few other options, and will have to hope Stoudemire can be healthy enough to give him something to think about next season. "Thatll be for us to determine where our roster winds up next year and where everyone else is," Grunwald said. "I thought he had a great role in terms of where Woody put him in to be successful, in terms of coming off the bench as Woody said, and whether that continues next year or not will be determined. But theres no grand plan per se that hell start or not start. Itll be determined on what Woody decides is best for the team that will give us the best chance to win." Nike Air Max 270 Black And White . LOUIS -- Roman Polak was celebrating even before Alexander Steen scored the winning goal in Saturdays 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. 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In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford. Forty years ago to the week, the Red River Rivalry reached its acrimonious apex.In the days leading up to the 1976 game, Darrell Royal, who had dropped five in a row to the Sooners, publicly accused Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer of spying on his practices. Royal was so mad, he challenged Switzer, assistant coach Larry Lacewell and the alleged spy, oilman Lonnie Williams, to take lie-detector tests to prove their innocence. If they passed, Royal offered to donate $10,000 each to the charity of their choice.Switzer initially called the challenge ridiculous. Then the day before the game, answered it was worth more money to me to have [Royal] look for ghosts.Switzers dismissive response further exasperated Royal, who blurted out to AP reporter Robert Heard, Why those sorry bastards, I dont trust em on anything.The rancorous exchange, between legendary coaches in their final clash against one another, set the stage for one of the bitterest battles in college football history.Darrell made it known he didnt care much for us, Oklahoma and our staff, Switzer said. And I understood it. Darrell had every reason to be upset.But the reason he was upset was because he was getting beat.Turned out, Royal had good reason to believe the Sooners were spying on his practices.Because they were. Four years earlier.But first, the charactersIn 1957, after a 1-9 finish, which included a 45-0 loss to Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl, Texas called on a Sooner to save its floundering football program.Born and raised in Hollis, Oklahoma, Royal arrived in Norman in 1946, the same year as Bud Wilkinson. With Royal becoming an All-American and one of his first key players, Wilkinson rapidly whipped Oklahoma into a juggernaut, highlighted by a famed 47-game winning streak through the 50s.Royal followed in the footsteps of his mentor to become a coach, which brought him back to the other side of the Red River Rivalry. In his second season, Royal stunned Wilkinsons Sooners with a two-point conversion, which proved to be a turning point in the rivalry.With Royal at the helm, the Longhorns returned to dominating in Dallas.For Oklahoma, following two mediocre seasons under Wilkinsons right-hand man Gomer Jones and eight consecutive losses to Texas, the Sooners were on the hunt for a coach again in 1966. After an unsuccessful attempt to lure Royal, Oklahoma settled on Arkansas assistant Jim Mackenzie, who brought with him a promising offensive coach named Barry Switzer.Behind Switzers speed-oriented version of the wishbone offense that Royal assistant coach Emory Bellard had invented, the Sooners reclaimed control over Texas.In 1972, with Chuck Fairbanks leading Oklahoma following the death of Mackenzie, both squads entered the season with national championship aspirations. Texas boasted a terrific team headlined by the backfield duo of Alan Lowry and Roosevelt Leaks. The more-talented Sooners countered with star halfbacks Greg Pruitt and Joe Washington and a defense anchored by the venerable Selmon brothers.And a little-known tackle named Derland Moore, who came to Oklahoma as a shot-putter, but would go on to produce the play at the center of the controversy between Switzer and Royal four years later.The undercover agentRoyal understood that, though talented, his offense would have a difficult time moving the ball on the stalwart Sooners that season.We werent quite on the level they were then, said Spike Dykes, then an assistant on Royals staff. They were a little more pronounced.So the week of the 1972 game, Royal installed a quick kick. If Texas ran into a third-and-long, Royal would call for Lowry to punt the ball way, eliminating the possibility of a turnover or return while giving the Longhorns an upper-hand in field position.Turned out, the Sooners were watching.And waiting.Darrell four years later in 76 accuses us of spying, Switzer said. There are semantics involved here. When I said me and my staff never spied on Texas, I was telling the truth. Because the spying actually happened in 72 when Chuck Fairbanks was the head coach.That week of the 1972 game, Lacewell, the Sooners defensive coordinator, suggested to longtime friend Lonnie Williams that he go to Austin and report back on the Longhorns. Posing as a construction worker, the perfect disguise with Texas stadium under renovation, Williams covertly took note of everything the Longhorns practiced -- including the quick kick.During a Friday walkthrough before traveling to Dallas, Lacewell brought the defense together to briefly practice one last thing.Coach Lacewell said, in case Texas tries a quick kick, this is how were going to line up, Moore recalled. We hadnt practiced against the quick kick in years. Then [Lacewell] walked by casually and said to me, Derland, move to the gap between the ttackle and guard.dddddddddddd... You might have a chance to block it.As Royal had predicted, the game turned into a defensive struggle. Trailing 3-0 in the third quarter and facing a third-and-long, Royal called for the quick kick.But as the Longhorns broke the huddle, the Oklahoma defenders began hollering quick kick to Royals disbelief.Lacewell already knew they were working on that because he got it from Lonnie Williams, Switzer said. Well, we had our tackles, Raymond Hamilton and Derland Moore, inside the B-gaps to rush the punt. We had our 9-techniques hold their ends, who were going to be covering from a tight formation. And we had our safety run back to be able to return. So were holding up coverage and we put a block on. When they came out and shifted to quick-kick formation in the end zone, well, our guys told everybody what the hell to do.We looked like the best coached team in the world. ... But we wouldnt have known about the quick kick unless Lonnie Williams had seen the practices and told Larry about it.At the final second, Moore remembered what Lacewell had told him, and took a step to the inside. Moore barreled through the Texas line to block the punt, end Gary Baccus cleared out Lowry, and Lucious Selmon pounced on the ball for a touchdown.Whether Derland had an inside secret, I dont know, Selmon said. But I was sure glad he did what he did.The defensive touchdown catapulted the Sooners to a 27-0 rout, which proved to be Texas only loss of the season. And cost Royal the shot at a fourth national title. Instead, USC captured the national title, and the Longhorns finished third in the polls, a spot behind the Sooners.It seemed like one of those freak things that happen in a game, Leaks said.Royal was dumbfounded by the block. I know a lot of folks who paid $7 will question the quick kick, he said afterward. I didnt think it would be expected.Moore, however, began to get curious when he said Oklahoma defensive line coach Jimmy Johnson instructed him to say nothing about the quick kick to reporters.Something felt kind of suspicious about it, Moore said, but you really didnt have much time to dwell on it because here came the reporters.Moore only confirmed his suspicions much later while reading about it in a book.Royal, however, would find out much sooner.The spy comes in from the cold cocktail barFor years, Royal has been suspicious that Oklahoma had been spying on his practices. But he never had any proof -- until the fall of 1976.Tony Herry, a Houston businessman and Texas booster, was having drinks one night in Houston in December of 1975 with Lonnie Williams. As Herry told it, Williams, after a few cocktails, began boasting of the time when he pretended to be painter working on Texas stadium to spy on the Longhorns practicing on the quick kick.Herry relayed the account to Texas assistant David McWilliams, who passed along the information to Royal.It took three years for this to get back to Darrell that had happened because Lonnie Williams kept bragging about it, Switzer said.Royal believed he finally had his proof. And the week of the 1976 game, he charged Switzer with spying, bringing the rivalry to an unprecedented level of animosity not even the leader of the free world could smooth over.Moments before kickoff, President Gerald Ford, who was there for the coin toss, stood between Royal and Switzer in the tunnel.[Ford] was trying to carry on a conversation, and Darrell and I werent having it, Switzer said.As the three walked out to the south end zone, one Sooner fan cut the tension. Or maybe added to it.This damn redneck from Oklahoma, Switzer recalled, stood up and screamed, Who are those two a--h---- with Switzer? Of course, everybody started dying laughing. It wasnt funny to me, though. It made me feel like two inches tall.Fittingly, perhaps, that game ended in a 6-6 tie, as Oklahoma flubbed what wouldve been the game-winning extra point.The best defensive game Ive ever seen, Dykes said. Just an all-out fight.Afterward, Royal said the game felt more like a loss than anything.I wouldnt be sitting here with my belly about to throw up if I thought we had won, he told reporters. I dont feel too good.The spying controversy didnt die after the game.Lacewell joked that he would take the polygraph for $300,000, which didnt amuse Royal, who said that was Lacewells price to get out of coaching.Because thats what hed have to do. Ill tell you what, Id quit coaching if theyd take it and pass it.Instead, Royal wound up retiring after the season.I never felt as sick about a game as I did that one, he would later say.I wanted that game more than any I competed in or coached in. Cheap Jerseys Store Wholesale Jerseys 2018 Wholesale Jerseys Jerseys NFL China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys 2018 Cheap NFL Jerseys China ' ' '
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