BuscoVivienda

[carrie567]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Don Zimmer wasnt a fixture in baseball forever. It just seemed that way. He played alongside Jackie Robinson on the only Brooklyn Dodgers team to win the World Series. He coached Derek Jeter on the New York Yankees latest dynasty. And his manager once was the illustrious Casey Stengel. For 66 years, Zimmer was a most popular presence at ballparks all over, a huge chaw often filling his cheek. Everyone in the game seemed to know him, and love him. Zimmer was still working for the Tampa Bay Rays as a senior adviser when he died Wednesday at a hospital in nearby Dunedin. He had been in a rehabilitation centre since having seven hours of heart surgery in mid-April. "Today we all lost a national treasure and a wonderful man," Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg said in a statement. Zimmer started out as a minor league infielder in 1949, hitting powerful shots that earned him the nickname "Popeye." He went on to enjoy one of the longest-lasting careers in baseball history. And oh, the stories he could tell. "I loved listening to him every day," Billy Connors, a coach under Zimmer with the Chicago Cubs, told The Associated Press. Zimmer played on the original New York Mets, saw his Boston Red Sox beaten by Bucky Dents playoff homer, got tossed to the ground by Pedro Martinez during a brawl and was Joe Torres right-hand man as the bench coach with the Yankees. "I hired him as a coach, and he became like a family member to me. He has certainly been a terrific credit to the game," Torre said in a statement. "The game was his life. And his passing is going to create a void in my life and my wife Alis. We loved him. The game of baseball lost a special person tonight. He was a good man," he said. A career .235 hitter in the big leagues, numbers could never define all that Zimmer meant to the game. He did have tremendous success, too -- his teams won six World Series rings and went to the post-season 19 times. Zimmers No. 66 Rays jersey had been worn recently by longtime Tampa Bay third base coach Tom Foley in tribute. The Rays hosted the Miami Marlins on Wednesday night, and Foley was crying in the dugout. Earlier this season, the Rays hung a banner in the front of the press box at Tropicana Field that simply read "ZIM." There was a moment of silence at Dodger Stadium for Zimmer before Los Angeles played the Chicago White Sox. "On behalf of Major League Baseball and the many clubs that Popeye served in a distinguished baseball life, I extend my deepest condolences to Dons family, friends and his many admirers throughout our game," Commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement. Zimmers biggest admirer was his wife "Soot" -- they were married at home plate during a minor league game in 1951. Two years later in the minors, Zimmers path took a frightening turn -- he was beaned by a fastball and left in a coma, and doctors had to put metal screws in his head. He recovered well enough to wear a lot of uniforms during his 56 years in the majors. He played for the Dodgers, Mets, Cubs, Cincinnati and Washington. He managed San Diego, Boston, Texas and the Cubs. "Probably the best baseball man I knew," Connors said. Yankees executive Hank Steinbrenner echoed that sentiment. "I loved Zim. I loved his passion. He was a great, great guy. He was a great baseball guy," he told the AP. "Everybody loved him." Steinbrenner, son of late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, said Torre and Zimmer were the "perfect team" during New Yorks run that brought four titles in a five-year span. "Joe was low-keyed. Zim would get fired up. He was a bench coach for real," Steinbrenner said. "He was an extremely important part of the 1990s success." Zimmer hit 91 home runs and had 352 RBIs in 12 seasons. He started Game 7 when Brooklyn beat the Yankees for the 1955 crown and was an All-Star in 1961. The next year, he played under Stengel on the 1962 expansion Mets, who famously went 40-120. "Dont blame them all on me," Zimmer once said. "I got traded after the first 30 days." Zimmer was the 1989 NL Manager of the Year with the Cubs and was at Yankee Stadium for three perfect games, by Don Larsen in the 1956 World Series and by David Cone and David Wells in the late 1990s. "Its a sad day for the game of baseball," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said after a 3-2 loss at San Diego. "Don impacted lives from the time he put a uniform on in the minor leagues until today." Zimmer is survived by his wife; son Thomas, a scout with the San Francisco Giants; daughter Donna, and four grandchildren. Cheap Detroit Lions Gear . -- The Phoenix Coyotes have won three in a row for the first time in 4 1/2 months, and theyve done it just in time for the stretch run to the playoffs. Stitched Detroit Lions Jerseys . The Packers, Lions and Bears were a combined 35-15 and as long as Jay Cutler can say healthy, all three could make the playoffs in 2012. http://www.cheaplions.com/. 5 Trade Deadline is drawing closer and teams will be deciding on whether to buy or sell. Authentic Detroit Lions Jerseys .Inter Milan and Napoli also advanced to ensure there will be at least three Italian clubs in the last 32 of Europes secondary competition.Spurs victory, secured by Benjamin Stamboulis 49th-minute winner, was overshadowed by a succession of pitch invasions that forced the referee to halt the game after 41 minutes. Detroit Lions Jerseys Outlet . With one week left in the regular season, Cornish - voted The Toughest Player To Bring Down - is a leading candidate for the CFLs Most Outstanding Player award. He has rushed for 1,799 yards and could break Willie Burdens club record for rushing yards in a single season with a 98-yard performance against the B.Tis the season to watch bowl games. So if anyone is dubbing the Panthers-Falcons matchup for the NFC South title the Garbage Bowl, well, let them — while also remembering the winner will make the playoffs.And host a wild-card round game.Yes, this years NFC South might be the worst division in league history, which will mean nothing to Carolina (6-8-1) or Atlanta (6-9), whichever advances.We never lost sight of the goal, said linebacker Thomas Davis, whose Panthers have won three in a row. And here we are in the last game of the season with a chance to do that. Throw out the record. Throw out what has happened this season. We have a chance to do something special, something that hasnt been done.The other two showdowns for division titles Sunday have a lot more cachet: the Lions and Packers at Lambeau Field for the NFC North, then the Bengals at Pittsburgh for the AFC North in the prime-time game to finish off the schedule.Carolina at AtlantaGiven that they already own a draw (against Cincinnati), the Panthers wouldnt mind another one; it will also give them the division. Only one team in a non-strike season has made the playoffs with a losing mark, Seattle in 2010.Carolina is trying to become the first repeat NFC South champion and under coach Ron Rivera, it has gone 14-3 in December games since 2011. Only New England (15-2) has a better record.Falcons receiver Julio Jones has 100 receptions, tops in the NFC, and also leads the conference with 1,535 yards receiving.We are treating it as a playoff game and thats what weve been doing these last couple of weeks, said Jones fellow wideout in Atlanta, Roddy White. We are treating every game with the utmost importance.Detroit (11-4) at Green Bay (11-4)Not only does a division crown come to the winner here, but a first-round playoff bye, perhaps even top seed in the NFC, depending on what Seattle and Arizona do.For Detroit to go into Lambeau Field and march off with a victory would be something different. The Lions have lost 23 straight in Wisconsin to the Packers, including a 1994 wild-card game. Detroit last beat Green Bay on the road on Dec. 15, 1991.The Packers are 7-0 in Green Bay, joining Denver and New England as the only unbeatens at home. Fast starts make all the difference: Green Bay is outscoring opponents 86-7 in the first quarter of the past six home games.Cincinnati (10-4-1) at Pittsburgh (10-5)Like the Lions and Packers, both of these teams are in.Pittsburgh might have an edge after scoring 25 fourth-quarter points at Cincinnati to win their first meeting. The Steelers have won three in a row.This could be a shootout considering how potent Pittsburghs offence has been behind Ben Roethlisberger, LeVeon Bell and Antonio Brown. Plus, the Bengals have unveiled a dynamic running game with rookie Jeremy Hill and Gio Bernard, and if A.J. Greens right arm is OK, he can be a game-buster. Green caught 11 passes for a career-high 224 yards in the first game against Pittsburgh.San Diego (9-6) at Kansas City (8-7)This is simple. And complex. Depends on who wins.If the Chargers do, they get the final AFC wild card. If Kansas City prevails, the Chiefs then need Baltimore and Houston to lose.San Diego is trying to replicate its strong finish of 2013, when it grabbed that wild-card slot by beating the Chiefs in the season finale.St. Louis (6-9) at Seattle (11-4)The Seahawks are looking every bit like defending Super Bowl champions, with a defence that is impenetrable and lots of big plays on offence by Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch.A victory earns Seattle home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs — and woe to the rest of the conference. But a loss could sink the Seahawks to a wild card.The Rams beat the Seahawks in October with the help of a punt return touchdown and a fourth-down conversion via a fake punt. But they also are headed for a losing record for the eighth straight season.Oakland (3-12) at Denver (11-4)Hardly dominant like they were in 2013, the Broncos could use a feel-good finish to the season. They have won six straight in the series and Peyton Manning has won his past eight meetings with Oakland. But hes had some struggles recently.A Denver win gives it a bye in the wild-card round.Oakland has gotten all of its wins under interim coach Tony Sparano affter losing its first four under Dennis Allen.ddddddddddddArizona (11-4) at San Francisco (7-8)The end of Jim Harbaughs highly successful stint in San Francisco? Quite possibly.This is the first losing record for him after taking the 49ers to the NFC title game in all three previous seasons as coach. There was also the Super Bowl loss to the Ravens two seasons back.Arizona owns a playoff berth, wins the NFC West with a victory here and a loss by Seattle, but is starting rookie Logan Thomas at quarterback. Hes the fourth QB to start this year for the injury-ravaged Cardinals.Cleveland (7- at Baltimore (9-6)If San Diego loses and Baltimore wins, the Ravens make the post-season for the sixth time in John Harbaughs seven years as coach. But by blowing a lead to the Chargers on Nov. 30 in a one-point loss, the Ravens put themselves in this difficult spot.Cleveland concludes yet another non-playoff year with rookie Connor Shaw going at quarterback after injuries to Brian Hoyer and Johnny Manziel. The Browns bright outlook dimmed as they dropped their past four and five of six.Jacksonville (3-12) at Houston (8-7)The Texans are hanging in the AFC race, too, just one year after going 2-14. Doing so with an unstable QB situation and virtually no contributions from top overall draft pick Jadeveon Clowney pinpoints how important defensive end J.J. Watt has been in Houston.Houston must win and have Baltimore and San Diego lose to advance.Blake Bortles, the third overall pick in the draft, has thrown 17 picks, but he also has passed for 2,791 yards and needs 29 to pass Byron Leftwich for the franchise rookie record.Dallas (11-4) at Washington (4-11)The Cowboys probably are concentrating on playing next week, because they need a lot to happen to get a bye. Such as a victory and losses by Seattle and Arizona; a tie in Green Bay; or some other scenarios involving draws.Might be a good chance to get NFL rushing leader DeMarco Murray healed up from his hand injury.The Redskins actually beat Dallas earlier this year.Buffalo (8-7) at New England (12-3)Its not Bill Belichicks style to rest players even with nothing to gain. The AFC East champion Patriots own the conferences top spot and will have a first-round bye for the fifth consecutive year.The Bills can only imagine what one playoff berth, let alone a bye, feels like. They extended the leagues longest current post-season drought to 15 seasons, but have a shot at a winning record for the first time since 2004.Indianapolis (10-5) at Tennessee (2-13)Indy is locked in as the No. 4 seed in the AFC, but comes off a 42-7 whipping at the hands of Dallas and needs to show at least something in this one. The Colts have won six straight and 11 of 12 against the Titans. A loss Sunday would be very alarming considering Tennessee has dropped nine straight and is in the running for the top overall draft pick.New Orleans (6-9) at Tampa Bay (2-13)Tampa Bay is the other, uh, front-runner for selecting first in the draft and has lost five in a row.The Saints somehow flopped in their last five home games, so finishing off a distressing season on the road might be a good thing.Philadelphia (9-6) at New York Giants (6-9)After beating Dallas to take control of the NFC East on Thanksgiving Day, the Eagles lost three in a row to fall out of playoff contention. Meanwhile, the Giants have won their past three and the fervour for getting rid of Tom Coughlin as coach has pretty much subsided.Chicago (5-10) at Minnesota (6-9)The fervour for a new coach, GM and quarterback in Chicago has not died down. The Bears have not beaten a team with a winning record, and they go back to Jay Cutler at quarterback because Jimmy Clausen got concussed last week in his first start for them.Minnesota has showed progress, especially on defence, under first-year coach Mike Zimmer, although its also been a tumultuous season for the Vikings given the Adrian Peterson suspension.New York Jets (3-12) at Miami (8-7)Last season, these teams met in the finale and the Jets kept the Dolphins out of the playoffs while improving to .500. Now, it could be Rex Ryans final game as Jets coach.Miami coach Joe Philbin will be back; owner Stephen Ross said so last week.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Cheap Buffalo Sabres Gear Wholesale Calgary Flames Jerseys Cheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche Jerseys Montreal Canadiens Outlet Store Wholesale New Jersey Devils Jerseys Adidas Arizona Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Adidas Boston Bruins Jerseys Cheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys Chicago Blackhawks Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys Dallas Stars Shop Free Shipping Cheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings Jerseys Anaheim Ducks Jerseys China Wholesale Edmonton Oilers Jerseys Florida Panthers Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Minnesota Wild Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Nashville Predators Jerseys Cheap Adidas New York Islanders Jerseys New York Rangers Winter Classic Jerseys Cheap Adidas Ottawa Senators Jerseys Cheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys Wholesale Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys Cheap Adidas San Jose Sharks Jerseys St. Louis Blues Winter Classic Jerseys Wholesale Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys Toronto Maple Leafs Outlet Store Vancouver Canucks Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Adidas Washington Capitals Jerseys Cheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '