Game ended. Yankees won!
NYY:3
SD:0
F
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Friday, August 2, 2013
Kroger upgrading Houston we have a problem
Kroger Revamps Pricing in Houston
Aug 01, 2013
HOUSTON — Kroger Co. this week
introduced lower everyday prices on
thousands of items at its stores in the
Houston market and said it would invest $79
million to upgrade stores in the region this
year.
Kroger’s “refresh” initiative in Houston also
includes a renewed emphasis on the
shopping experience, including faster
checkouts, fuel discounts, local products and
community relations. As in other markets,
the lower everyday prices coincide with a
discontinuation of double-couponing. The
lower everyday prices began Wednesday.
"We're a
strong
brand
and
company
but
we've
achieved
that
status because we're always looking for
improvement opportunities. Kroger currently
serves 820,000 households every week in the
Houston area with 107 locations but we're
eager to expand those numbers," Bill Breetz,
president of the Kroger Southwest Division,
said in a statement. "We know that price is
important to every customer, and at times,
can be a deciding factor where to shop. With
our Refresh initiative, we're making a multi-
million dollar investment to reduce prices
across the store and reengaging our
employees to offer highly-satisfied customer
service."
Kroger is investing $79 million in the
Houston region this year to upgrade 18
existing store locations and three fuel center
sites, and to open four fuel centers and a
new Kroger Marketplace store. That location,
in Kingwood, Texas, is expected to open in
the third quarter.
Thursday, August 1, 2013
arod
breaking news arod seen in mlb lot...
8/1/2013 1:32 P.M. ET
A-Rod reportedly talking
suspension deal
Without agreement, Yankees third baseman
may be facing lifetime ban from baseball
By Paul Hagen / MLB.com
The legal team representing Alex Rodriguez has
begun negotiating a settlement it hopes will help
the Yankees third baseman avoid a lifetime ban
from baseball, multiple media outlets reported
on Wednesday.
The talks are occurring despite Rodriguez's
consistent denials of any connection to the
Biogenesis clinic and his representative's
insistence that an agreement would not be
considered.
According to the reports by the New York Daily
News, New York Post and ESPN, Major League
Baseball earlier this week informed the MLB
Players Association that A-Rod's penalty would
be "considerable" and could even end his
playing career if he decides to fight what is said
to be extensive evidence that he not only
acquired performance-enhancing substances
from Biogenesis but that he recruited other
players to patronize the clinic and impeded
MLB's investigation.
There has been speculation that MLB wants the
38-year-old to sit out at least a full season in
exchange for not imposing harsher punishment.
There is a powerful financial incentive for
Rodriguez to settle. If Rodriguez goes along
with missing the rest of this season and all of
2014, he would still be entitled to the $61
million he is owed for the 2015, '16 and '17
seasons. He would not receive any of that
money if he is banned for life and his appeal is
denied.
There have been multiple reports that eight or
nine other players will receive 50-game
suspensions in return for agreeing not to file
grievances and appeal their punishments, thus
effectively ending their seasons. That group
could include Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta,
Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz, Yankees
catcher Francisco Cervelli and Padres shortstop
Everth Cabrera.
Brewers star Ryan Braun accepted a 65-game
suspension last week. If there are any appeals,
MLB would present that as evidence to support
the credibility of Biogenesis founder Anthony
Bosch, who agreed to cooperate with baseball's
investigators.
Major League Baseball had no comment on the
reports.
A player who accepts an immediate suspension
would be technically eligible for the postseason
if his team makes it. As a practical matter,
though, it would be nearly impossible for a
player to be sharp enough to contribute at that
point.
When Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera was
suspended last year, he could have been
activated in time for the National League
Championship Series, but the Giants decided
against the move. Manager Bruce Bochy
explained at the time that he liked the way his
roster had pulled together down the stretch.
Rodriguez, who is currently rehabbing following
offseason hip surgery and a recent quadriceps
injury, has retained the services of the
Manhattan law firm of Cohen, Weiss and Simon,
according to the Post. If an agreement isn't
reached, Commissioner Bud Selig has some
options on what the next step would be.
If Rodriguez's suspension is based on the
collective bargaining agreement, he would not
be able to play while waiting for arbitrator
Frederic Horowitz to hear his case. While it's
unclear how quickly an appeal could be heard,
Horowitz conceivably could hand down his
ruling before the end of the season.
If Rodriguez is suspended for violating the Joint
Drug Agreement, he could play through the
appeals process. Or, if he's suspended under
the Commissioner's "integrity of the game"
powers in the Collective Bargaining Agreement,
Selig himself would hear the appeal instead of
Horowitz. But that's considered the least likely
outcome.
Rodriguez has never tested positive for PEDs in
non-survey testing, though he did test positive
in 2003 survey testing, which could help his
case in any appeal. But if it comes to that,
Horowitz will have the latitude to consider a
lifetime suspension and perhaps impose a lesser
penalty.
An announcement is expected any day. Reports
have suggested it will come on Friday, with the
Post saying it could be made as early as
Thursday. Players who choose to sit out 50
games now will have to begin serving their
suspensions soon in order to complete their
sentences by the end of the regular season.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman
declined to speculate on the future during a
conference call with reporters on Wednesday.
He referred all questions to MLB, adding that
the team will continue to assume Rodriguez will
return to active duty until told differently.
"I think you have to at this point," he said.
"Nothing's been handed down, so I think you
have to. We expected to have him back at this
point. We don't have him yet, but I know he's
playing in a simulated game [Thursday], and
that's a step in the right direction."
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Monday, July 29, 2013
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Friday, July 26, 2013
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Monday, July 22, 2013
Yankees
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Yu Darvish allowed two
singles over 6 1/3 scoreless innings in his first
start in 16 days, combining with three relievers
on a three-hitter as the Texas Rangers beat
the New Yankees 3-0 Monday night.
Darvish (9-4), who last pitched July 6 before
going on the disabled list with a right
trapezius strain, struck out four and walked
two. He left after allowing consecutive batters
to reach in the seventh, having thrown 60 of
90 pitches for strikes.
Just before the game, the Rangers announced
they had acquired right-hander Matt Garza
from the Chicago Cubs. Garza, who had been
scheduled to start for Chicago at Arizona on
Monday night, likely will make his Texas debut
Wednesday night against the Yankees.
Ivan Nova (4-3) struck out four while throwing
a season-high 112 pitches over seven innings.
All-Star closer Joe Nathan pitched the ninth
for his 31st save in 32 chances to cap the
Rangers' eighth shutout of the season.
The Yankees, coming off an 11-inning loss
late Sunday night at Boston, were held
scoreless for the eighth time.
Texas had reliever Robbie Ross warming up
while the Rangers were batting in the sixth.
But Darvish came out to start the seventh,
and appeared frustrated when manager Ron
Washington came out of the dugout to make
the pitching change.
Ross then got Travis Hafner , the only batter
he faced, to ground into an inning-ending
double play. Tanner Scheppers worked a
perfect eighth.
Nelson Cruz homered for the Rangers, who
had lost seven of eight games. They were
swept at home in a three-game series by
Baltimore over the weekend after the All-Star
break.
Cruz's 23rd homer was a 412-foot solo shot in
the seventh that landed in the Yankees'
bullpen in left-center field and made it 3-0.
The Rangers led for good after Ian Kinsler
drew a leadoff walk in the first, stole second
base and scored on Adrian Beltre 's single --
the first run they've scored in the first inning
in 11 games. In the sixth, Elvis Andrus had a
walk and a stolen base before Geovany Soto
doubled.
New York didn't have a hit until Lyle Overbay
led off the fifth with a bloop single into short
left field out of the reach of third baseman
Adrian Beltre. The Yankees didn't have
another hit until Overbay lined a single to right
in the seventh, just before Vernon Wells
walked and Darvish came out of the game.
Darvish only missed one start for Texas, but
was unable to pitch in the All-Star game even
though he did go to New York last week.
Texas sent rookie right-hander Justin Grimm ,
top prospect third baseman Mike Olt and
Class-A pitcher C.J. Edwards to the Cubs.
There will also be at least one player to be
named later, possibly two, depending on who
is chosen by Chicago.
Game notes
The Rangers' bullpen has pitched 22 1/3
consecutive scoreless innings. ... Yankees OF
Curtis Granderson, expected back early next
month from a broken pinkie, got three at-bats
in his first simulated game in Tampa and
continued running the bases. Granderson said
he feels like it's "at the spring training point
again" where preseason games are just a few
days away. His status will be evaluated after
simulated games Tuesday and Wednesday. ...
C Francisco Cervelli , sidelined by right wrist
and elbow injuries, did on-field defensive drills
and expects to soon start taking batting
practice in an indoor cage in Tampa, while INF
Jayson Nix (strained right hamstring) got six
at-bats in his latest simulated game, but did
not run the bases.
NCAA football 2014 done
Michigan's Denard Robinson is on the cover of
the last NCAA Football 14 game after the NCAA
announced it was breaking ties with the video-
game maker.
by Steve Berkowitz, USA TODAY Sports
The NCAA announced Wednesday it is not
renewing its licensing contract with Electronic
Arts for a college football video game, citing
legal and business concerns.
The NCAA, EA and the nation's leading
collegiate trademark licensing and marketing
firm, Collegiate Licensing Co., are co-
defendants in at least two federal lawsuits
concerning the use of college athletes' names
and likenesses. EA is the defendant in another,
similar case.
EA is the defendant in another, similar matter
involving former Rutgers quarterback Ryan Hart.
Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Freda Wolfson
in New Jersey ordered that case reopened for
further proceedings after the Third Circuit Court
of Appeals overturned her dismissal in May and
recently denied EA's bid to have that decision
reviewed by the Third Circuit's full panel.
Hart's attorney, Timothy McIlwain, told USA
TODAY Sports on Wednesday that he will
pursue class certification and has verbal
commitments from more class representatives,
including a current college athlete he declined
to identify.
Michael Hausfeld, the lead attorney for former
UCLA basketball star Ed O'Bannon and others
in a case against NCAA, EA and Collegiate
Licensing Co. (CLC), has said he plans to add
an active college athlete as plaintiff by Friday.
In a statement about its decision regarding EA,
the NCAA said: "We are confident in our legal
position regarding the use of our trademarks in
video games. But given the current business
climate and costs of litigation, we determined
participating in this game is not in the best
interests of the NCAA."
Warren Zola, who teaches sports law at Boston
College's Carroll School of Management, said
the NCAA's decision indicates "they are no
longer able to handle a jury decision against
them. They are taking precautions against a
judgment causing them significant financial
hardship."
Zola said that a decision by the NCAA to
continue its licensing arrangement with EA
"would allow more members into the
(prospective class of plaintiffs) able to claim
damages."
The NCAA's agreement with EA pertains only to
the use of the NCAA's name and logo -- not
those of the individual schools depicted -- and
its statement pointed to a more serious
question: "Member colleges and universities
license their own trademarks and other
intellectual property for the video game. They
will have to independently decide whether to
continue those business arrangements in the
future."
EA Sports and CLC issued statements saying
that EA will continue to develop and market
college football games featuring the teams and
leagues customers "expect."
However, University of Kansas athletics
department spokesman Jim Marchiony -- who
identified his school as a CLC client -- said KU
officials will want to digest the NCAA's
decision. Marchiony said Kansas' agreement
with EA, via CLC, for the current version of
NCAA Football expires June 30, 2014.
"I'm not surprised CLC and EA Sports have a
Plan B and we're looking forward to hearing
from them about it, to see how we'll proceed in
the future," Marchiony said. "We will certainly
talk about it, where we go from here."
Stanford deputy athletics director Patrick
Dunkley, who said his school also is with CLC,
expressed similar sentiments. He said that prior
to the NCAA's announcement Wednesday, the
issue "was not on our radar."
Now, "given that the NCAA is taking the
position that the legal risk outweighs the
benefit, it's only prudent for us to analyze what
the perceived risks are," Dunkley said.
One of the lawsuits against the NCAA, EA and
CLC is awaiting U.S. District Judge Claudia
Wilken's ruling on whether to certify the case as
a class action. That case currently involves a
group of former college football and men's
basketball players headed by O'Bannon.
If Wilken certifies the suit as a class action, it
could allow thousands of former and current
football and men's basketball players to join the
case. That could create the possibility of a
damages award in the billions of dollars. In
addition, if the plaintiffs were to get everything
they have said they are seeking, it would force
the establishment of an entirely new
compensation arrangement for current NCAA
Bowl Subdivision football players and Division I
men's basketball players -- one under which
"monies generated by the licensing and sale of
class members' names, images and likenesses
can be temporarily held in trust" until their end
of their college playing careers.
Another case that had been before Wilken pits
former Arizona State and Nebraska quarterback
Sam Keller against EA, the NCAA and CLC. That
matter currently is pending before the Ninth
U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, with the
defendants hoping to overturn Wilken's refusal
to dismiss the case.
If the Ninth Circuit rules in Keller's favor, his
lawyers likely also will seek class certification.
The NCAA said its current contract with EA
expires in June 2014, "but our timing is based
on the need to provide EA notice for future
planning. As a result, the NCAA Football 2014
video game will be the last to include the
NCAA's name and logo."
Gabe Feldman, director of the Tulane University
Law School's sports law program, said "as long
as the game continues to have the names and
logos of the schools" it remains viable because
"that's why a consumer buys the game."
Asked how the NCAA's decision not to continue
allowing its name and logo to be associated
with the game might affect individual schools,
Feldman said: "There's no question the schools
have been monitoring all of this and (the
NCAA's decision) may factor into their decisions
going forward."
"But," he added, "the really essential part of
the game is the players. ... A separate issue
continues to be what (EA) will do with the
players. Will they make the players completely
generic, with no numbers? If they do that,
there's no legal liability. There may be room
somewhere between the game as we know it
today and no game at all."
Copyright 2013 USATODAY.co
Report: Apple experimenting with bigger iPhone, iPad screens
(CNN) -- iPhone and iPad users looking with envy at the ever-ballooning screen sizes of Android devices shouldn't lose hope just yet.
The Wall Street Journal reports that
Apple has been experimenting with iPhone screen sizes larger than the
current four inches, echoing rumors from earlier this year that the
company may be looking to supplement its current offerings.
The WSJ also says that
Apple is experimenting with larger iPads, specifically a model with a
gigantic 13-inch display. While a larger iPhone would be in line with
current trends, the trend in tablets has been toward smaller screen sizes, not larger ones.
In either case, those hoping for a bigger iPhone or lap-sized iPad shouldn't necessarily hold their breath.
Apple regularly tests out
new screen sizes and even brand-new product lines without ever bringing
them to market; those that do see the light of day can take their time
emerging from Apple's labs.
The iPad mini itself was
the subject of similar speculation in the months and years before it was
finally released, and the iPhone 5's 4-inch screen was the subject of
rumors that predate the 3.5-inch iPhone 4S.
Apple is expected to update both the iPad and the iPad mini later this year.
Speculation is that the
larger tablet will go on the iPad mini diet, shedding some weight,
thickness, and bezel width. The smaller tablet, on the other hand, may
or may not receive a high-resolution Retina display -- these rumors have
been known to change daily based on what the folks at Apple rumor sites
see in their tea leaves each morning.
Both tablets were last refreshed in November 2012.
Apple's developer site shut down by hack attack
Apple's developer site has been shut down due to a hacker attack.
A notice on the site said an intruder had "attempted to secure personal information of our registered developers" last Thursday, and that Apple had shut down the site."Sensitive personal information was encrypted and cannot be accessed, however, we have not been able to rule out the possibility that some developers' names, mailing addresses, and/or email addresses may have been accessed," Apple said Monday. The tech firm said it had been working around the clock to fix the problem, updating its server software and rebuilding its entire database. It said it expects the site to be up and running soon.
The site is used by third-party developers who are creating software and apps for use on Apple operating systems. It has everything from chat forums to technical manuals.
Related: This is what a bad quarter for Apple looks like
In June, Apple unveiled a beta version of iOS 7, its new operating system for iPhones and iPads, as well as a new operating system for Mac laptops and desktops, OS X 10.9, also known as "Mavericks."
Developers have been busy readying their software and apps to work with the new operating systems, expected to launch this fall, making this a particularly bad time for the developer's site to have an extended outage.
http://money.cnn.com/2013/07/22/technology/apple-hacked/index.html?hpt=hp_t3
Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun suspended for 2013 season
(CNN) -- Major League Baseball player Ryan Braun has been suspended without pay for the rest of the 2013 season for violating the league's drug policy, Commissioner Bud Selig announced Monday.
The Brewers have 65 games remaining this season, so Braun's punishment amounts to a 65-game suspension.
Braun, 29, an outfielder
for the Milwaukee Brewers, admitted to wrongdoing and apologized for his
actions in a statement, saying "I am not perfect."
An ESPN report last month named Braun as one of 20 players facing suspension due to a scandal involving performance-enhancing drugs.
Michael Weiner, the
executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association,
said he was pleased by Braun's admission.
"I am deeply gratified to
see Ryan taking this bold step," Weiner said in a statement. "It
vindicates the rights of all players under the Joint Drug Program. It is
good for the game that Ryan will return soon to continue his great work
both on and off the field."
The 2011 National League
MVP and five-time All-Star had faced a 50-game suspension last year. A
drug test showed high levels of testosterone in his body, but Braun successfully disputed the testing process, and the suspension was overturned in February.
Major league players can appeal any possible suspensions, as Braun did in 2012.
"As I have acknowledged
in the past, I am not perfect," Braun said in his statement. "I realize
now that I have made some mistakes. I am willing to accept the
consequences of those actions.
"This situation has
taken a toll on me and my entire family, and it has been a distraction
to my teammates and the Brewers organization. I am very grateful for the
support I have received from players, ownership and the fans in
Milwaukee and around the country. Finally, I wish to apologize to anyone
I may have disappointed -- all of the baseball fans especially those in
Milwaukee, the great Brewers organization, and my teammates. I am glad
to have this matter behind me once and for all, and I cannot wait to get
back to the game I love."
Rob Manfred, MLB's
executive vice president for economics and league affairs, also
commended Braun for taking responsibility for his actions.
"We all agree that it is
in the best interests of the game to resolve this matter. When Ryan
returns, we look forward to him making positive contributions to Major
League Baseball, both on and off the field," Manfred said in a
statement.
Braun was the 2007 National League Rookie of the Year and by the 2011 season, he was considered the cornerstone of the Brewers franchise.
He signed a five-year,
$105 million contract extension and went on to help lead the Brewers to
the playoffs for the only the fourth time in team history. His
performance earned him that year's National League MVP award.
Shortly after his
amazing season, however, a urine sample taken during the playoffs tested
positive for an elevated level of testosterone. Faced with a 50-game
suspension, Braun appealed the decision, and an arbitrator overturned
the suspension on what some, including the chief executive of the U.S.
Anti-Doping Agency, said was a technicality.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/22/us/ryan-braun-suspended/index.html?hpt=hp_c3god Monday
Chronicles II 29:5 And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place. Luke 18:27 Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
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