On a picture-perfect day for road racing here, both Ryan Hall and Catherine Ndereba executed their race strategies perfectly, winning the 32nd edition of the ING Philadelphia Distance Run, America's most storied half-marathon.
The talk here over the last few days had been about fast times, particularly by Hall, who requested that the 15-K, 10 mile and 20-K marks be certified just in case he bettered any national records. But both the men's and women's races ended up being tactical, especially the men's, which came down to a sprint in the final kilometer.
Hall, and Kenyans Samuel Ndereba, Benjamin Limo, and Valentine Orare, had separated themselves from the field by the 8th kilometer (23:40). As the race left the city center to run along the Schuylkill River, the four contenders established a very steady, but slow rhythm. Mile splits were consistently between 4:42 and 4:48, with Limo doing most of the leading.
"I remember running 15-K's and we were talking at this pace," said USA 10-mile record holder, Greg Meyer, who was who was watching the race from the press truck.
Hall found the pace, closer to what he would be running for a fast marathon, to his liking. At this point in his marathon build-up for the ING New York City Marathon in November, running even a little faster was challenging.
"After the first couple of miles it was obvious that a record wasn't going to be on for today," said Hall sporting a new short haircut he got here yesterday. He added: "We were all kind of looking around and waiting for someone to move."
Hall decided to sit tight, but not too long, figuring that Limo, the 2005 world 5000m champion, would have the best sprint. But with the pack still together with a mile to go, Hall had waited long enough.
"Right about the mile (to go) mark I put in a nice hard surge," he said. "I just decided I was going to press as hard as I could."
It was good enough. Limo said that a hamstring was bothering him and he was afraid to press any harder. The left an opening for both Hall, who scampered to the finish near the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 1:01:52, and Samuel Ndereba, Catherine's brother, who was able to finish second in 1:01:56, just slightly off of his personal best. Limo held on for third in 1:02:01, and Orare was fourth (1:02:22). No other athletes broke 65 minutes.
"I knew that the last mile would be tough," said Limo who seemed pleased overall with his race. Of the hamstring problem he said, "I just felt it when I was warming up."
The women went out more aggressively than the men (33:09 for 10 km), but the race still came down to the final kilometer. Ndereba had to contend with her plucky compatriot, Irene Limika, 30, who was looking for her first Distance Run title. Ndereba wasn't concerned.
"No, I wasn't worried," she said, her eyes hidden behind her trademark sunglasses. "She's training well, and I'm training well, too. I knew we were going to have a tough challenge with one another."
In the end, experience won over youth. Ndereba pressed hard to the finish line to win in 1:09:43, just three seconds up on Limika who set a personal best. Neriah Asiba, also of Kenya, finished third in 1:10:26, just two seconds off of her career best time.
"It's a home crowd," said Ndereba of the Philadelphia fans. "I've been here almost 15 years. It's good to win home."
For two Olympic gold medalists, Derartu Tulu of Ethiopia and Constantina Dita of Romania, results were mixed. Tulu, 37, the first African woman to win an Olympic gold medal in any sport, finished a solid fourth in 1:10:33. She's trying to make a comeback and is hoping to run a fall marathon.
"I'm OK now," said Tulu, clearly pleased. "I'm coming up."
Dita finished 10th in 1:14:47 and was clearly in some pain after the race, holding her lower back and grimacing. She said, however, that the race was part of her rebuilding process after a long break from what she considered to be serious racing.
"It's the first time in a long time that I raced," she said.
Source
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Eagles bring in Trotter for workout
PHILADELPHIA - The Eagles' search for a reliable middle linebacker led them to call Jeremiah Trotter on Thursday."It went good," Trotter said in a radio interview on 610 AM Thursday afternoon. "I just went through football drills, the normal stuff they put guys through when they work guys out."
Trotter, 32, played 10 seasons in the NFL, including seven with the Eagles (1998-2001, 2004-06). The Eagles released him at the end of the preseason in 2007. Trotter signed with Tampa Bay but appeared in only three games as a reserve.
After sitting out last season, it appeared he was done in the NFL, but he hired a personal trainer last winter and found that the time away from football helped him get stronger.
"I trained with (Eagles cornerback) Sheldon (Brown) and (place-kicker David) Akers, and I feel really good," Trotter said. "Obviously, I'm not in football shape. That would take me getting out on the field. But for being out of football for two years, I feel in really good shape."
The Eagles were seemingly set at middle linebacker until Stewart Bradley suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in early August and was sidelined for the season. Joe Mays got the first shot at replacing Bradley but struggled. Omar Gaither started the first two games this season.
"When Stewart went down, I texted (Eagles coach) Andy (Reid)," Trotter said. "I told him I was in great shape and could help him out. Nothing happened, but he called me (Thursday) and wanted me to come in for a workout.
"Going over there, I was nervous as heck. When you have to showcase yourself, I was nervous. I got the feeling it went really good, but it was just a workout. We'll see what happens in the near future. (Reid) has my number."
Trotter was the second ex-Eagle to work out for the team in the last two weeks. Just before the season opener, tackle Jon Runyan auditioned. Runyan spent the previous nine seasons with the Eagles but was not re-signed this year after undergoing microfracture knee surgery.
Source
Trotter, 32, played 10 seasons in the NFL, including seven with the Eagles (1998-2001, 2004-06). The Eagles released him at the end of the preseason in 2007. Trotter signed with Tampa Bay but appeared in only three games as a reserve.
After sitting out last season, it appeared he was done in the NFL, but he hired a personal trainer last winter and found that the time away from football helped him get stronger.
"I trained with (Eagles cornerback) Sheldon (Brown) and (place-kicker David) Akers, and I feel really good," Trotter said. "Obviously, I'm not in football shape. That would take me getting out on the field. But for being out of football for two years, I feel in really good shape."
The Eagles were seemingly set at middle linebacker until Stewart Bradley suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in early August and was sidelined for the season. Joe Mays got the first shot at replacing Bradley but struggled. Omar Gaither started the first two games this season.
"When Stewart went down, I texted (Eagles coach) Andy (Reid)," Trotter said. "I told him I was in great shape and could help him out. Nothing happened, but he called me (Thursday) and wanted me to come in for a workout.
"Going over there, I was nervous as heck. When you have to showcase yourself, I was nervous. I got the feeling it went really good, but it was just a workout. We'll see what happens in the near future. (Reid) has my number."
Trotter was the second ex-Eagle to work out for the team in the last two weeks. Just before the season opener, tackle Jon Runyan auditioned. Runyan spent the previous nine seasons with the Eagles but was not re-signed this year after undergoing microfracture knee surgery.
Source
Sunday, November 15, 2009
City Hall’s Cars by Day, and Yours by Night
Many New Yorkers have given up their cars to embrace the perks of the Zipcar lifestyle — the on-demand service of a personal vehicle without those pesky fuel, insurance and parking costs.
Now City Hall, no big fan of the automobile, is following suit.
Early next year, employees at the Department of Transportation plan to start using a third-party car-sharing service, similar to Zipcar, to book rides around town. Instead of hopping into an in-house Prius or Taurus, reserved for a single employee, workers will share a smaller pool of vehicles that can be more efficiently used.
The pilot project, modeled after programs in Philadelphia and Washington, will replace 57 cars in the department’s city-owned fleet with 25 vehicles from the car-sharing service, set aside for city use during business hours. On nights and weekends, instead of languishing in garages (or taking up space on the street), the cars will be available for use by the public.
While the prospect of driving the same car as a high-ranking public servant may scintillate some, officials said their priority was to lower costs and shrink the city’s Sasquatch-size carbon footprint. “We’re doing everything we can to lessen the impact on the environment,” Janette Sadik-Khan, the transportation commissioner, said in an interview this week. She said she hoped that allowing the public to use the cars during off hours would reduce congestion and maximize their use.
Officials would not provide a cost-savings estimate, saying they needed to wait to see bids from car-sharing vendors. (A formal request is to be issued on Friday, with bids due in early November.)
But other cities that have begun car-sharing have seen considerable savings by ridding their fleets of underused vehicles. Since 2005, Philadelphia has saved more than $600,000 in maintenance costs — including parking, repairs and fuel — by taking 140 vehicles out of its fleet, said Robert Fox, director of Philadelphia’s municipal car fleet.
Philadelphia also earned thousands of dollars more by auctioning off unwanted cars to the public, a plan that New York plans to follow with some of the older cars now in its fleet.
The city estimates that its vehicles would have a resale value of about $2,000 each. In Washington, where the program began last year, about 360 city-owned cars were replaced by 71 shared vehicles — an 80 percent drop. “It’s actually more cost-effective for me to rent the vehicle by the hour as opposed to owning it and having it on my books,” said Ralph Burns, the vehicle control officer at the District of Columbia Department of Public Works.
Still, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg won’t be giving up his king-size S.U.V. just yet. New York’s pilot program will last at least a year before officials decide whether to expand the service to other city agencies.
“If this works like we expect it to, it will provide the data needed to assess blowing this up on a large scale citywide,” Ms. Sadik-Khan said.
Zipcar, perhaps the most popular of the car-sharing companies, offers customers choices like a Mini Cooper convertible or Ford Mustang. Does this mean city employees will be jetting around town in high style?
“We’re not interested in the sporty vehicles,” Seth Solomonow, a spokesman for the Transportation Department, said. “We’re interested in vehicles that get the job done.” He added that hybrids and S.U.V.’s would be the likely choice.
Although putting car-sharing into effect can create logistical problems — it often involves an entirely new software infrastructure and training for employees — officials in other cities said the biggest barrier was psychological. Many public servants, they said, are loath to relinquish a cherished perk that offers a quick way to get around on official business.
“We felt we were changing a culture, and that culture was that people had cars handed down to them,” said Mr. Fox, in Philadelphia. “Whether they had outlived the usefulness of a car, it didn’t matter. How that plays itself out, over time, is you’re buying vehicles that you don’t need.”
Mr. Burns, in Washington, said employees were initially skeptical about picking up a car that might not be stored in the garage directly beneath their building. But they soon adjusted to a short subway ride to the nearest carport.
Union officials who represent New York City employees said the plan would probably affect only nonunion managers.
Currently, many of the Transportation Department’s vehicles are stored in a garage under the Brooklyn Bridge, a 10-minute walk from the agency’s offices. Others take up parking space around City Hall Park.
“You certainly don’t need a study to know that spaces are at a premium in Lower Manhattan,” Ms. Sadik-Khan said.
Source
Now City Hall, no big fan of the automobile, is following suit.
Early next year, employees at the Department of Transportation plan to start using a third-party car-sharing service, similar to Zipcar, to book rides around town. Instead of hopping into an in-house Prius or Taurus, reserved for a single employee, workers will share a smaller pool of vehicles that can be more efficiently used.
The pilot project, modeled after programs in Philadelphia and Washington, will replace 57 cars in the department’s city-owned fleet with 25 vehicles from the car-sharing service, set aside for city use during business hours. On nights and weekends, instead of languishing in garages (or taking up space on the street), the cars will be available for use by the public.
While the prospect of driving the same car as a high-ranking public servant may scintillate some, officials said their priority was to lower costs and shrink the city’s Sasquatch-size carbon footprint. “We’re doing everything we can to lessen the impact on the environment,” Janette Sadik-Khan, the transportation commissioner, said in an interview this week. She said she hoped that allowing the public to use the cars during off hours would reduce congestion and maximize their use.
Officials would not provide a cost-savings estimate, saying they needed to wait to see bids from car-sharing vendors. (A formal request is to be issued on Friday, with bids due in early November.)
But other cities that have begun car-sharing have seen considerable savings by ridding their fleets of underused vehicles. Since 2005, Philadelphia has saved more than $600,000 in maintenance costs — including parking, repairs and fuel — by taking 140 vehicles out of its fleet, said Robert Fox, director of Philadelphia’s municipal car fleet.
Philadelphia also earned thousands of dollars more by auctioning off unwanted cars to the public, a plan that New York plans to follow with some of the older cars now in its fleet.
The city estimates that its vehicles would have a resale value of about $2,000 each. In Washington, where the program began last year, about 360 city-owned cars were replaced by 71 shared vehicles — an 80 percent drop. “It’s actually more cost-effective for me to rent the vehicle by the hour as opposed to owning it and having it on my books,” said Ralph Burns, the vehicle control officer at the District of Columbia Department of Public Works.
Still, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg won’t be giving up his king-size S.U.V. just yet. New York’s pilot program will last at least a year before officials decide whether to expand the service to other city agencies.
“If this works like we expect it to, it will provide the data needed to assess blowing this up on a large scale citywide,” Ms. Sadik-Khan said.
Zipcar, perhaps the most popular of the car-sharing companies, offers customers choices like a Mini Cooper convertible or Ford Mustang. Does this mean city employees will be jetting around town in high style?
“We’re not interested in the sporty vehicles,” Seth Solomonow, a spokesman for the Transportation Department, said. “We’re interested in vehicles that get the job done.” He added that hybrids and S.U.V.’s would be the likely choice.
Although putting car-sharing into effect can create logistical problems — it often involves an entirely new software infrastructure and training for employees — officials in other cities said the biggest barrier was psychological. Many public servants, they said, are loath to relinquish a cherished perk that offers a quick way to get around on official business.
“We felt we were changing a culture, and that culture was that people had cars handed down to them,” said Mr. Fox, in Philadelphia. “Whether they had outlived the usefulness of a car, it didn’t matter. How that plays itself out, over time, is you’re buying vehicles that you don’t need.”
Mr. Burns, in Washington, said employees were initially skeptical about picking up a car that might not be stored in the garage directly beneath their building. But they soon adjusted to a short subway ride to the nearest carport.
Union officials who represent New York City employees said the plan would probably affect only nonunion managers.
Currently, many of the Transportation Department’s vehicles are stored in a garage under the Brooklyn Bridge, a 10-minute walk from the agency’s offices. Others take up parking space around City Hall Park.
“You certainly don’t need a study to know that spaces are at a premium in Lower Manhattan,” Ms. Sadik-Khan said.
Source
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
EVEN IN THE FACE OF CONTROVERSY, ‘JUST DO IT’
At first it appeared that Nike stayed true to its “Just do it” motto when contemplating whether to rekindle its contractual relationship with Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick. After all, who wouldn’t want to “Just sign” a player who has yet to play in a game since the 2006 season and is fresh off a prison sentence stemming from his role in a dog-fighting ring?
Yet, one day after Vick’s agency, BEST, announced that a new deal was struck between the disgraced player and the company, Nike was quick to refute the report, claiming that it had only agreed to supply its products to Vick and not have him serve as a sponsor or spokesman.Even though Nike reiterated that it has not offered an endorsement to Vick, the company has a long history, dating back to the 1970s, of teaming up with controversial players and running contentious campaigns.
In 1978, Nike teamed up with tennis legend John McEnroe to launch the “Rebel With a Cause” campaign designed to sell its tennis paraphernalia. McEnroe, notorious for his outbursts, was featured in commercials and billboard advertisements, many of which portrayed him as the quick-tempered, hot-headed player he was.Despite McEnroe’s tantrums and disorderly conduct, Nike still retains him as one of its primary endorsers in the tennis department, for which it released the Nike Air Zoom Tennis Trainer last fall.
On Sept. 11, Nike had to be thrilled to watch its star spokesman Michael Jordan achieve basketball immortality with his NBA Hall of Fame induction. Still, despite being arguably the greatest player in NBA history, Jordan faced some controversy during his career due to his endorsement deal with Nike.
Nearly signing a deal with Nike’s archrival Adidas after being drafted by the Chicago Bulls out of the University of North Carolina in 1984, Jordan ultimately chose to endorse Nike even though he had never worn the brand’s shoes before. A few months later, in 1985, Nike released the Air Jordan signature brand that still is highly popular today.
However, the red and black sneakers did not sit well with NBA commissioner David Stern, who banned the shoes from the game because they did not comform with the league’s uniform guidelines. With encouragement from Nike, Jordan ignored the ruling and continued to wear them, accruing a fine of $5,000 per game — which Nike was happy to pay in exchange for the publicity.
While “Just do it” may have a catchy ring to it, some of Nike’s other slogans have sparked debate and opposition. During the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Nike introduced an advertising campaign with the slogan: “You don’t win silver — you lose gold.”
Source
Yet, one day after Vick’s agency, BEST, announced that a new deal was struck between the disgraced player and the company, Nike was quick to refute the report, claiming that it had only agreed to supply its products to Vick and not have him serve as a sponsor or spokesman.Even though Nike reiterated that it has not offered an endorsement to Vick, the company has a long history, dating back to the 1970s, of teaming up with controversial players and running contentious campaigns.
In 1978, Nike teamed up with tennis legend John McEnroe to launch the “Rebel With a Cause” campaign designed to sell its tennis paraphernalia. McEnroe, notorious for his outbursts, was featured in commercials and billboard advertisements, many of which portrayed him as the quick-tempered, hot-headed player he was.Despite McEnroe’s tantrums and disorderly conduct, Nike still retains him as one of its primary endorsers in the tennis department, for which it released the Nike Air Zoom Tennis Trainer last fall.
On Sept. 11, Nike had to be thrilled to watch its star spokesman Michael Jordan achieve basketball immortality with his NBA Hall of Fame induction. Still, despite being arguably the greatest player in NBA history, Jordan faced some controversy during his career due to his endorsement deal with Nike.
Nearly signing a deal with Nike’s archrival Adidas after being drafted by the Chicago Bulls out of the University of North Carolina in 1984, Jordan ultimately chose to endorse Nike even though he had never worn the brand’s shoes before. A few months later, in 1985, Nike released the Air Jordan signature brand that still is highly popular today.
However, the red and black sneakers did not sit well with NBA commissioner David Stern, who banned the shoes from the game because they did not comform with the league’s uniform guidelines. With encouragement from Nike, Jordan ignored the ruling and continued to wear them, accruing a fine of $5,000 per game — which Nike was happy to pay in exchange for the publicity.
While “Just do it” may have a catchy ring to it, some of Nike’s other slogans have sparked debate and opposition. During the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Nike introduced an advertising campaign with the slogan: “You don’t win silver — you lose gold.”
Source
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Philadelphia Eagles -3 in NFL preseason action at Indianapolis Colts
With Philly coach Andy Reid stressing the preseason more and Indianapolis short some starters due to injury, this should be an easy preseason cover for the Eagles.
We are aware of the hoopla surrounding the Eagles camp this week regarding the recent signing of Michael Vick. If there is any coach in the league that can keep his players from distractions from the media circus, it is Andy Reid.
He has dealt with his own off-the-field personal family issues which were under the microscope of the media and it never took away from the quality of his job on the sidelines nor his team's play. Vicks' highly anticipated debut won't happen this week since he won't be traveling with the team.
Andy Reid doesn't take these preseason games lightly. Reid said the starters will play the entire first half in this game. As three-point favorites, the Eagles couldn't secure a comeback against the Patriots as they fell 27-25 when David Akers missed a potential game winning field goal. We expect a full rebound from Philadelphia this time around. As a matter of fact since 2004 in preseason games Reids' teams are 7-1 ATS in their next game after failing to cover the spread in their previous game. Even in the regular season his teams are known to bounce back after a loss. Statistically Philly outplayed New England; they out gained the Pats 420 total yards to 257 total yards.They won the first down battle, ground game, passing game,and time of possession but failed to come out the victor. The offense was obviously clicking as the Quarterbacks hooked up with 16 different receivers in the game.
The other big news out of Philly is running back Brian Westbrook is back this week practicing for the first time with the first team offense. He will miss this game but rookie phenom LeSean McCoy of Pittsburgh is almost a mirror image of Westbrook. McCoy carried the ball 10 times for 55 yards and caught two passes out of the backfield in his debut with the Eagles. Reports are that the Philly coaches are saying that second-round pick McCoy got the most out of training camp; more than any other player on the team and we can expect to see a lot of him Thursday evening.
Reid was definitely playing to win against New England because after Donovan McNabb was done, A.J. Feeley finished the game and he never put in fourth-string rookie Adam DiMichele. Feeley had a huge game passing for 211 yards and a TD and Feeley most likely will be closing this game out for the Eagles too. With the recent signing of Vick, we should see a valiant effort from Feeley who now finds himself competing for a spot on this roster.
Colts first year coach Jim Caldwell saw his team in an all-around poor performance in their 13-3 loss to the Vikings. The Vikings had 24 first downs to just eight for Indianapolis. Minnesota owned the time of possession battle with a 38:59 to 21:01 edge.
We don't know where to start with the Colts' performance. The pass protection was atrocious as Peyton Manning was sacked three times on his first series. The line was dominated the whole game giving up six sacks total and never establishing the run. The offense actually never made it into the red zone in the opener. The first unit only played six plays but we should expect to see them out there a little longer this game to get some more reps, though we doubt he'll leave Manning out there the whole first half as the Eagles are doing with their first team.
Their defense has some issues as well. The whole starting secondary missed the opening game and the Indy defense has been plagued with injuries all of camp. We think the Colts' mindset is to get out of the preseason as healthy as possible for their opener with Jacksonville in September rather then rack up some wins. There are quite a few guys who are questionable but back up QB Jim Sorgi (hamstring), safety Bob Sanders (knee), cornerback Kelvin Hayden (hamstring), tight end Dallas Clark (concussion), defensive end Raheem Brock (fractured hand) and kicker Adam Vinatieri (hip, knee) are the notables among the guys who won't be suiting up Thursday.
The Colts are still learning to trust and gain confidence in their new coach and it will take a couple more games to get in sync with each other. Over the past few seasons Indinapolis is known not to put much emphasis in preseason games. The Colts are just 1-7-1 ATS in their last nine preseason home games. Since 2005 they've only won three of 20 preseason games.
Source
We are aware of the hoopla surrounding the Eagles camp this week regarding the recent signing of Michael Vick. If there is any coach in the league that can keep his players from distractions from the media circus, it is Andy Reid.
He has dealt with his own off-the-field personal family issues which were under the microscope of the media and it never took away from the quality of his job on the sidelines nor his team's play. Vicks' highly anticipated debut won't happen this week since he won't be traveling with the team.
Andy Reid doesn't take these preseason games lightly. Reid said the starters will play the entire first half in this game. As three-point favorites, the Eagles couldn't secure a comeback against the Patriots as they fell 27-25 when David Akers missed a potential game winning field goal. We expect a full rebound from Philadelphia this time around. As a matter of fact since 2004 in preseason games Reids' teams are 7-1 ATS in their next game after failing to cover the spread in their previous game. Even in the regular season his teams are known to bounce back after a loss. Statistically Philly outplayed New England; they out gained the Pats 420 total yards to 257 total yards.They won the first down battle, ground game, passing game,and time of possession but failed to come out the victor. The offense was obviously clicking as the Quarterbacks hooked up with 16 different receivers in the game.
The other big news out of Philly is running back Brian Westbrook is back this week practicing for the first time with the first team offense. He will miss this game but rookie phenom LeSean McCoy of Pittsburgh is almost a mirror image of Westbrook. McCoy carried the ball 10 times for 55 yards and caught two passes out of the backfield in his debut with the Eagles. Reports are that the Philly coaches are saying that second-round pick McCoy got the most out of training camp; more than any other player on the team and we can expect to see a lot of him Thursday evening.
Reid was definitely playing to win against New England because after Donovan McNabb was done, A.J. Feeley finished the game and he never put in fourth-string rookie Adam DiMichele. Feeley had a huge game passing for 211 yards and a TD and Feeley most likely will be closing this game out for the Eagles too. With the recent signing of Vick, we should see a valiant effort from Feeley who now finds himself competing for a spot on this roster.
Colts first year coach Jim Caldwell saw his team in an all-around poor performance in their 13-3 loss to the Vikings. The Vikings had 24 first downs to just eight for Indianapolis. Minnesota owned the time of possession battle with a 38:59 to 21:01 edge.
We don't know where to start with the Colts' performance. The pass protection was atrocious as Peyton Manning was sacked three times on his first series. The line was dominated the whole game giving up six sacks total and never establishing the run. The offense actually never made it into the red zone in the opener. The first unit only played six plays but we should expect to see them out there a little longer this game to get some more reps, though we doubt he'll leave Manning out there the whole first half as the Eagles are doing with their first team.
Their defense has some issues as well. The whole starting secondary missed the opening game and the Indy defense has been plagued with injuries all of camp. We think the Colts' mindset is to get out of the preseason as healthy as possible for their opener with Jacksonville in September rather then rack up some wins. There are quite a few guys who are questionable but back up QB Jim Sorgi (hamstring), safety Bob Sanders (knee), cornerback Kelvin Hayden (hamstring), tight end Dallas Clark (concussion), defensive end Raheem Brock (fractured hand) and kicker Adam Vinatieri (hip, knee) are the notables among the guys who won't be suiting up Thursday.
The Colts are still learning to trust and gain confidence in their new coach and it will take a couple more games to get in sync with each other. Over the past few seasons Indinapolis is known not to put much emphasis in preseason games. The Colts are just 1-7-1 ATS in their last nine preseason home games. Since 2005 they've only won three of 20 preseason games.
Source
Monday, September 28, 2009
NFL Training Camp Capsules: AP Source: Vick could get first snap
PHILADELPHIA — Michael Vick could be on the field for the first play from scrimmage if the circumstances are right.
Philadelphia has a set series of plays designed for Vick, according to a person familiar with the Eagles’ offensive game plan who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss it.
ESPN first reported the quarterback would play in the first quarter.
Eagles coach Andy Reid, who’s known for using the element of surprise, has said he plans to use Vick during the first three quarters with the rest of the first-team offense. It’s possible Vick will run a wildcat formation or be under center right away if the Eagles are in the red zone.
During early warmups, well before fans were allowed into the stadium, Vick threw passes to a variety of teammates. His demeanor was far more serious than starting quarterback Donovan McNabb, who was joking around and even displaying to Vick the proper way to get two feet inbound when catching a pass.
Dressed in his game pants and a black warmup top, Vick exchanged a few fist bumps with teammates. He and McNabb both hugged former NFL coach Herman Edwards, who was on hand as a TV commentator, as the players headed off the field.
By then, a few dozen fans were in the stands, including a handful wearing No. 7 Vick jerseys or shirts. His head down as he headed into the tunnel, Vick did not acknowledge the fans.
Philly animal lovers holding event for Vick debut
PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia animal lovers are trying to take the spotlight off Michael Vick and put it on dogs in need of homes.
The Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is holding a tailgate party with more than a dozen dogs, including two pit bulls rescued from a Philadelphia dogfighting ring.
Vick is slated to make his debut with the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night in a preseason game against Jacksonville. The three-time Pro Bowl quarterback signed with the team after serving 18 months in prison for his role in leading a dogfighting ring.
Animal welfare officials say the event is intended to raise awareness of dogfighting. They say the 2nd Chance Dogs campaign will offer rescued pit bulls the kind of second chance Vick is getting.
Source
Philadelphia has a set series of plays designed for Vick, according to a person familiar with the Eagles’ offensive game plan who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss it.
ESPN first reported the quarterback would play in the first quarter.
Eagles coach Andy Reid, who’s known for using the element of surprise, has said he plans to use Vick during the first three quarters with the rest of the first-team offense. It’s possible Vick will run a wildcat formation or be under center right away if the Eagles are in the red zone.
During early warmups, well before fans were allowed into the stadium, Vick threw passes to a variety of teammates. His demeanor was far more serious than starting quarterback Donovan McNabb, who was joking around and even displaying to Vick the proper way to get two feet inbound when catching a pass.
Dressed in his game pants and a black warmup top, Vick exchanged a few fist bumps with teammates. He and McNabb both hugged former NFL coach Herman Edwards, who was on hand as a TV commentator, as the players headed off the field.
By then, a few dozen fans were in the stands, including a handful wearing No. 7 Vick jerseys or shirts. His head down as he headed into the tunnel, Vick did not acknowledge the fans.
Philly animal lovers holding event for Vick debut
PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia animal lovers are trying to take the spotlight off Michael Vick and put it on dogs in need of homes.
The Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is holding a tailgate party with more than a dozen dogs, including two pit bulls rescued from a Philadelphia dogfighting ring.
Vick is slated to make his debut with the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night in a preseason game against Jacksonville. The three-time Pro Bowl quarterback signed with the team after serving 18 months in prison for his role in leading a dogfighting ring.
Animal welfare officials say the event is intended to raise awareness of dogfighting. They say the 2nd Chance Dogs campaign will offer rescued pit bulls the kind of second chance Vick is getting.
Source
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Philadelphia Dog Lovers to Tailgate Elsewhere
Philadelphia Eagles tailgaters will be out in force long before Michael Vick takes the field Thursday. So will animal advocates — on the other side of town.
Dog lovers are holding a competing tailgate party for the 2nd Chance Dogs campaign, a pointed reference to Vick’s second chance in the N.F.L. — to increase awareness of dogfighting and encourage adoption of rescued pit bulls.
The initiative, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, was launched after the Eagles signed Vick, who served 18 months in prison for running a dogfighting ring.
“As a lot of people have pointed out, the animals never got a second chance,” the S.P.C.A. chief executive Sue Cosby said. “We need to speak for them.”
For Cosby, Vick’s arrival in Philadelphia has put a needed spotlight on the types of cruelty cases her agency deals with every day — and that is where she wants it: on the dogs, not on the dogfighter.
The signing of Vick two weeks ago sparked protests from fans and animal lovers.
Dogfighting is still a problem in Philadelphia, where authorities broke up another ring Sunday after finding two dead pit bulls and several others injured during a house raid.
Source
Dog lovers are holding a competing tailgate party for the 2nd Chance Dogs campaign, a pointed reference to Vick’s second chance in the N.F.L. — to increase awareness of dogfighting and encourage adoption of rescued pit bulls.
The initiative, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, was launched after the Eagles signed Vick, who served 18 months in prison for running a dogfighting ring.
“As a lot of people have pointed out, the animals never got a second chance,” the S.P.C.A. chief executive Sue Cosby said. “We need to speak for them.”
For Cosby, Vick’s arrival in Philadelphia has put a needed spotlight on the types of cruelty cases her agency deals with every day — and that is where she wants it: on the dogs, not on the dogfighter.
The signing of Vick two weeks ago sparked protests from fans and animal lovers.
Dogfighting is still a problem in Philadelphia, where authorities broke up another ring Sunday after finding two dead pit bulls and several others injured during a house raid.
Source
Monday, July 20, 2009
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Personal Trainer
Plenty of celebrities and athletes hire personal trainers, but what about everyday people like you and me? But should you spend money on a personal trainer?
Personal trainers can help anyone, regardless of physical condition or age. The first thing to do is decide what your goals are. Would you like to be bigger and stronger? Do you want to simply add some definition? Wouldn't it feel great to glow with confidence knowing that you are in great shape?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, you should try working with a personal trainer. Some people may want to use a trainer several times a week. You just have to decide how dedicated you are.
The costs associated with hiring a personal trainer may vary depending on where you live and how frequent you want to train. Some trainers will give you a discount if you sign up for bigger programs.
It should be relatively easy to find a personal trainer in your area. It may be wise to ask around to see if anyone you know is working with a personal trainer. You can start by doing a Google search for personal trainer it is likely you will find many trainers in the area. Health clubs sometimes have personal trainers on staff and may provide to training discounts to members.
What to look for in a personal trainer:
1. Make sure they are experienced. Although there are some great trainers that are young and just starting out. You may want to consider picking a trainer that has worked with many clients before.
2. Make sure they are certified and insured. If you are going to entrust your health based on recommendations of someone else make sure they have taken the proper certifications.
3. Be sure that the trainer is a good match for you. If you need someone that is going to be firm with you, be sure the trainer has the kind of personality that will keep you on track.
4. How will you trainer track your progress or and your goals.
5. Does the trainer ensure you will succeed. Keep in mind, you will get whatever you put in to it. Many trainers are very confident in their skill and training and will offer a guarantee, providing you stick with the plan.
6. What is their cancellation guidelines.
7. What are the package and pricing choices?
8. Can they provide actual client testimonies from folks that have experienced great results.
Source
Personal trainers can help anyone, regardless of physical condition or age. The first thing to do is decide what your goals are. Would you like to be bigger and stronger? Do you want to simply add some definition? Wouldn't it feel great to glow with confidence knowing that you are in great shape?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, you should try working with a personal trainer. Some people may want to use a trainer several times a week. You just have to decide how dedicated you are.
The costs associated with hiring a personal trainer may vary depending on where you live and how frequent you want to train. Some trainers will give you a discount if you sign up for bigger programs.
It should be relatively easy to find a personal trainer in your area. It may be wise to ask around to see if anyone you know is working with a personal trainer. You can start by doing a Google search for personal trainer it is likely you will find many trainers in the area. Health clubs sometimes have personal trainers on staff and may provide to training discounts to members.
What to look for in a personal trainer:
1. Make sure they are experienced. Although there are some great trainers that are young and just starting out. You may want to consider picking a trainer that has worked with many clients before.
2. Make sure they are certified and insured. If you are going to entrust your health based on recommendations of someone else make sure they have taken the proper certifications.
3. Be sure that the trainer is a good match for you. If you need someone that is going to be firm with you, be sure the trainer has the kind of personality that will keep you on track.
4. How will you trainer track your progress or and your goals.
5. Does the trainer ensure you will succeed. Keep in mind, you will get whatever you put in to it. Many trainers are very confident in their skill and training and will offer a guarantee, providing you stick with the plan.
6. What is their cancellation guidelines.
7. What are the package and pricing choices?
8. Can they provide actual client testimonies from folks that have experienced great results.
Source
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