By DAVE SKRETTA
The Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Ivan Rodriguez was the steady hand for the Florida Marlins when they won the 2003 World Series. A year later, he was the spark that helped turn around the Detroit franchise when nobody wanted to be a Tiger.
The New York Yankees hope he can be a little of both during their push for the playoffs.
The Yankees acquired the 14-time All-Star from the Tigers on Wednesday for hard-throwing reliever Kyle Farnsworth, a trade that filled glaring holes for both contenders.
"Honestly, I was shocked by this, but that's baseball," Rodriguez said. "Now, I'm just looking forward to playing for the Yankees and maybe I will play against Detroit again in the playoffs."
In the option year of a $50 million deal he signed with the Tigers in February 2004, Rodriguez will try to fill the void in the Yankees' lineup created by catcher Jorge Posada's shoulder injury. Posada had arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder Wednesday and is out for the season.
The 36-year-old Rodriguez, who has 13 Gold Glove awards, was hitting .295 with five homers in 82 games this season.
Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente and Rodriguez are the only three players in baseball history with at least 12 Gold Gloves and a career .300 average or better. Rodriguez has caught 2,142 games, trailing only Carlton Fisk (2,226) and Bob Boone (2,225) in terms of longevity behind the plate.
"He's still an everyday guy," Yankees manager Brian Cashman said. "He's an upgrade in spite of everything we've got."
Rodriguez has said he wants to play next season and beyond, but for now is focusing solely on helping the Yankees catch Tampa Bay and Boston in the AL East.
"It's going to be very exciting," he said. "They are in the race and I'm ready to do my job."
Tigers president Dave Dombrowski said the team didn't want to trade Rodriguez, but had bigger needs in the bullpen. The two teams began discussing the deal early Wednesday and had it wrapped up about six hours later, just as the Yankees were finishing off a 13-3 win over the Orioles.
The Yankees expect Rodriguez to join the team on Thursday, when they start a four-game series against the Los Angeles Angels.
"Pudge has done an outstanding job for us," Dombrowski told reporters before Detroit played the Cleveland Indians. "I'm sure he was very surprised by this, but for him this is a good situation. He's going to New York City, and they are in contention."
Scott Boras, Rodriguez's agent, said playing in the Bronx was very appealing to his client.
"Pudge had a no-trade clause and he waived it today to go to New York," Boras told The Associated Press. "Pudge has always wanted to play in New York, and Detroit felt it needed a relief pitcher, so both sides were able to get what they wanted to some degree."
The busy Yankees made their second major deal in the week leading up to Thursday's trade deadline. On Friday, they acquired outfielder Xavier Nady and left-hander Damaso Marte from the Pittsburgh Pirates for four minor leaguers.
The addition of Marte gave the Yankees the freedom to deal Farnsworth, who has been an inconsistent part of their bullpen for the past three seasons.
Farnsworth was 1-2 with a 3.65 ERA in 45 games, and joins a bullpen badly in need of reinforcements three days after veteran Todd Jones was removed from the closer role in Detroit.
"It's always hard, no matter what. Just one of those things you have to deal with," Farnsworth said in the Yankees' clubhouse. "I'm going someplace they want me, that's how I look at it."
Farnsworth pitched for the Tigers for the first four months of 2005, compiling a 2.32 ERA in 46 games before he was traded to the Braves at the trading deadline.
Dombrowski said it would be up to manager Jim Leyland to decide where to slot Farnsworth in the bullpen. Fernando Rodney, who has one career save, is the new closer for the Tigers.
"Kyle was a big part of our bullpen," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "It was tough to see him go."
Inge said he was excited to be getting a chance to start behind the plate on an everyday basis for the first time since 2003, when he started 98 times at catcher. Since then, he's gotten most of his starts at third base.
"I wan to play every day not matter what position, so I'm pumped," he said. "Did I learn a lot from Pudge? He's a future Hall of Famer, so watching him makes everybody better. I'm not Pudge, I'll just go out and do what I can."
Tigers slugger Gary Sheffield said the trade made sense to both sides.
"This is a surprise to people if they don't know the situations of the players," he said. "Both teams get better by this, and that's what a trade is supposed to be all about."
Rodriguez appeared in the Tigers' empty dugout hours before the game and waved over to Indians players, who were taking batting practice. He then disappeared back into the tunnel.
"You talk about a Hall of Fame catcher coming in here," Girardi said. "He's the complete package. He can do everything."
Later in the day, the Yankees traded reliever LaTroy Hawkins to Houston for Class-A infielder Matt Cusick. New York designated Hawkins for assignment Saturday after acquiring Nady and Marte.
___
AP Sports Writer Larry Lage in Detroit and AP Freelance Writer Chuck Murr in Cleveland contributed to this report.
source:www.mlive.com
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
schedule of Olympics,china,2008
| Sport: | Dates: |
| Opening Ceremony | 8th |
| Closing Ceremony | 24th |
| Athletics | 15th-24th |
| Rowing | 9th-17th |
| Badminton | 9th-17th |
| Baseball | 13th-23rd |
| Basketball | 9th-24th |
| Boxing | 9th-20th, 22nd-24th |
| Canoe/Kayak - Flatwater | 18th-23rd |
| Canoe/Kayak - Slalom | 11th-14th |
| Cycling - Track | 15th-19th |
| Cycling - Road | 9th-10th, 13th |
| Cycling - Mountain Bike | 22nd-23rd |
| Cycling - BMX | 20th-21st |
| Equestrian - Jumping | 15th, 17th-19th, 21st-24th |
| Equestrian - Dressage | 13th-16th, 19th-20th |
| Equestrian - Eventing | 9th-12th |
| Fencing | 9th-17th |
| Football | 6th-7th, 9th-10th, 12th-13th, 15th-16th, 18th-19th, 21st-23rd |
| Artistic Gymnastics | 9th-10th, 12th-15th, 17th, 20th |
| Gymnastics - Trampoline | 16th, 18th-19th |
| Ryhthmic Gymnastics | 21st-24th |
| Weightlifting | 9th-13th, 15th-19th |
| Handball | 9th-24rd |
| Hockey | 10th-23rd |
| Judo | 9th-15th |
| Wrestling - Greco-Roman | 12-14th |
| Wresting - Freestyle | 16th-17th, 19th-21st |
| Aquatics - Swimming | 9th-17th, 20th-21st |
| Aquatics - Syn. Swimming | 18th-20th, 22nd-23rd |
| Aquatics - Diving | 10th-13th, 15th-23rd |
| Aquatics - Water-polo | 10th-22nd, 24th |
| Modern Pentathlon | 21st-22nd |
| Softball | 12th-21st |
| Taekwondo | 20th-23rd |
| Tennis | 10th-17th |
| Table Tennis | 13th-23rd |
| Shooting | 9th-17th |
| Archery | 9th-15th |
| Triathlon | 18th-19th |
| Sailing | 9th-24th |
| Volleyball | 9th-24th |
| Beach Volleyball | 9th-22nd |
olympics
Opening ceremony in China | Links of Tickets buy online
Name of the Event :- 2008 Olympics: Opening Ceremony
Location :- National Stadium, Beijing, China
Date :- Friday, 8th Auguest 2008 ( 8/8/2008)
Time :- 8:08 PM
Tickets Price :- $7,840 (Section CAT C), $11,760(Section CAT B) , $24,500(Section CAT A)
To Buy tickets online of Opening Ceremony China 2008 : Click Here
News of Opening ceremony olympics Games
- Tokyo governor to attend Beijing Olympics opening ceremony
- Japanese PM to attend opening ceremony of Beijing Olympics
- Olympic opening ceremony could be rain-free
- Bush to Attend Beijing Opening Ceremony, White House Says
Pictures of Tickets of Olymics 2008 Games
Videos of Opening Opening ceremony beijing Games 2008
2004 - Click Here
Producers
Organisers of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games has chosen the famous Chinese film director Zhang Yimou Zhang Jigang and as co-managers of the opening and closing. In 2006, the Beijing Organizing Committee (BOCOG) has chosen originally American director Steven Spielberg, Yves Pepin, head of french entertainment group ECA2, and Sydney opening ceremony director Ric Birch as consultants. [2] In February 2008, Spielberg released its role as adviser to protest against China continues to support the Sudanese government and the escalation of violence in the Darfur region. [3]
Performers
It was announced that Canada Celine Dion and Taiwan's Jay Chou would be made at the opening ceremony.
Gillian Chung was originally scheduled to be an artist at the opening ceremony. Because of the photo scandal Edison Chen, director Zhang Yimou has replaced her and another Hong Kong star with CPP C-law, a pop-One.
Boycott
The idea of a boycott of the opening ceremony was encouraged by demonstrators and reviewed by a number of Heads of State. More specifically, the french president Nicolas Sarkozy has raised the possibility he might not attend in protest against the treatment of Tibetan demonstrators, but on July 4, 2008, he announced that he attend. George W. Bush had announced the day before he would be present, and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda also said that attend. The leaders of some other countries, including Estonia, Poland, Austria and the Czech Republic have said they will take part in a boycott of the opening ceremony. Others, like Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, announced that, although they will not be present at the ceremony, their decision is not linked to politics and they do not participate in any boycottSunday, July 27, 2008
Day after Bangalore, blasts in Ahmedabad(India in Pain)
Anil Rana
GANDHINAGAR, July 26: Shattering almost six years of peace, 16 blasts ripped across Gujarat's capital tonight in a space of 70 minutes, leaving 29 dead and 88 injured, a day after multiple explosions rocked Bangalore in another BJP-ruled state. An e-mail signed by Mohammad Shameem, a listed Huji activist, was sent to the Intelligence Bureau from the little-known outfit, Indian Mujahedeen, which claimed responsibility for today's blasts. The same group had claimed to have triggered blasts in Jaipur and Uttar Pradesh (chart right).
The bombs went off mainly in crowded bazars of Ahmedabad, and are suspected to have been planted in bicycles. Four of them were detonated on the premises of two hospitals where the injured were taken. The first blast rocked Maninagar ~ chief minister Mr Narendra Modi's constituency ~ at 6.45 p.m.
One bomb was detonated on a CNG bus at Sarkhej. Ishanpur, Narol, Saraspur, Thakkarnagar, Jawahar Chowk, Bapunagar, Harketshwar, Odhav, Amrasoli, Raipur, Sardar Patel junction, Juhapura and Sattar Bapunagar were the other localities rocked by the explosions. Though the blasts were triggered in communally-sensitive localities, peace prevailed. The chief minister's office managed to send out SMSs urging peace before cellphones were jammed and a red alert sounded in the city.
Some 40 minutes after the first bomb had exploded, another went off at the car park of LG Hospital in Maninagar even as the injured persons were being brought in. VS Hospital and Civil Hospital were the other two places the injured persons were taken to and bombs were detonated near the trauma centre and the emergency ward of Civil Hospital. Reports say blasts here killed at least six people. The area was cordorned off, as police suspected more bombs had been planted on the hospital premises.
President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condemned the blasts. Union home minister Mr Shivraj Patil convened a high-level meeting for tomorrow morning to review the security situation across the country. Mr Modi, who confirmed the casualty figure, condemned the blasts and appealed for calm. His party leader and MP for Gandhinagar, Mr LK Advani, blamed the Centre for the rise in terror activities but refused to draw conclusions about two BJP-ruled states ~ Gujarat and Karnataka ~ being targeted in a row. Home secretary Mr Madhukar Gupta said in New Delhi that National Security Guards were being rushed to Ahmedabad where RAF personnel were already deployed.
The Ahmedabad blasts came a day after multiple explosions in Bangalore where Karnataka police suspected the involvement of the banned Simi in yesterday's serial blasts as it defused a live bomb secreted in a cement flowerpot near a shopping mall in the posh Koramangla area today. Confirming this, Bangalore police commissioner Mr Shankar Bidri today said police were yet to establish the motive for yesterday's low-intensity blasts.
www.thestatesman.net
India blasts: Sixteen bombs in Ahmedabad leave 45 dead and India on high security alert
India's cities have been placed on high alert after 16 bombs tore through a provincial capital, leaving 45 dead.
By Rahul Bedi in New Delhi
Last Updated: 6:56PM BST 27 Jul 2008
Major cities are being warned after 16 simultaneous bomb blasts in Ahmedabad. ;
The terrorist attack on Ahmedabad in Gujarat state was among the worst of its kind. Bombs carefully planted in public spaces to cause maximum casualties exploded in quick succession.
One day before the blasts, seven small bombs had exploded in Bangalore, the centre of India's thriving software industry. The security forces fear that more cities may soon be targeted.
"The entire nation has been asked to step up security at vital installations," said an offical spokesman.
All the bombs in Ahmedabad exploded within the space of an hour. They detonated in the midst of teeming bazaars, congested neighbourhoods and outside hospitals, which were tending the injured from the first blasts.
While the death toll rose to 45, at least 160 people were wounded in the relatively affluent, Muslim-dominated city, including many women and children.
The bombs, fashioned from ammonium nitrate and packed with ball bearings to maximise their destructive power, were strapped to bicycles and motorbikes. Some were hidden under the seats of crowded public buses - and all were detonated with timers at carefully staggered intervals.
Two doctors were killed by explosions in two adjoining hospitals.
"Never before have we seen such ruthless bombings of hospitals. The terrorists' objective was to strike the defenceless and deepen the fear," said a senior security official.
Pankaj Patel said that his son, Rohan, and daughter, Pratha, were killed at Ahmedabad hospital.
"I came with my two children to cheer up my mother [in] hospital. They were laughing when the blast occurred. Now they are dead," he said.
O. P. Mathur, the city's police commissioner, said another unexploded device had been found. Around 30 people had been detained for questioning, he added.
"Anti-national elements have been trying to create panic among the people of our country. The Ahmedabad blasts are part of the same strategy," said Shivraj Patil, the home affairs minister.
The aim was to trigger communal bloodshed between Hindus and Muslims in the volatile city, he added.
Six years ago, Ahmedabad and the surrounding state of Gujarat endured a month-long pogrom, targeted mainly at Muslims, during which at least 2,500 people were murdered.
A little-known group styling itself the "Indian Mujahideen" claimed responsibility for the bombings in an email sent to local television channels minutes before the first explosion at around 6.30pm yesterday. This message declared that the attack was retribution for the killings of Muslims in 2002.
Narendra Modi, Gujarat's chief minister from the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, is one of India's most controversial politicians. He stands accused of organising anti-Muslim riots six years ago and inciting murders. The United States has placed him on a banned list and refused to issue him with a visa.
Indian Mujahideen has also claimed responsibility for last November's bombings in the city of Jaipur, which killed 63 people.
In a similar message sent moments before the attack, the group said the blasts were retaliation for India's alliance with America and Britain.
But Indian and Western security officials believe the "Indian Mujahideen" is merely a new name for Islamist extremist groups, based in neighbouring Bangladesh and Pakistan, which have carried out frequent attacks in India's cities.
Their central grievance is India's control over a large area of the disputed territory of Kashmir, which has a Muslim majority. They also object to the country's strategic and defence co-operation with the West, especially America.
"The command and control for all recent serial bombings and terrorist strikes remain the same and appear to be based in India's neighbourhood," said Arun Sahgal, a retired Brigadier and security analyst with the United Service Institute said.
Sources in India's Federal Intelligence Bureau the attacks demonstrated the ability of foreign insurgent groups to strike "anywhere" by using disaffected Muslims as "carriers". Around 13 per cent of India's 1.2 billion people are Muslims.
Over 550 people have been killed in 11 major terrorist attacks across India since October 2005. None of them has been solved so far - and no convictions secured.
source: www.telegraph.co.uk
By Rahul Bedi in New Delhi
Last Updated: 6:56PM BST 27 Jul 2008
Major cities are being warned after 16 simultaneous bomb blasts in Ahmedabad. ;
The terrorist attack on Ahmedabad in Gujarat state was among the worst of its kind. Bombs carefully planted in public spaces to cause maximum casualties exploded in quick succession.
One day before the blasts, seven small bombs had exploded in Bangalore, the centre of India's thriving software industry. The security forces fear that more cities may soon be targeted.
"The entire nation has been asked to step up security at vital installations," said an offical spokesman.
All the bombs in Ahmedabad exploded within the space of an hour. They detonated in the midst of teeming bazaars, congested neighbourhoods and outside hospitals, which were tending the injured from the first blasts.
While the death toll rose to 45, at least 160 people were wounded in the relatively affluent, Muslim-dominated city, including many women and children.
The bombs, fashioned from ammonium nitrate and packed with ball bearings to maximise their destructive power, were strapped to bicycles and motorbikes. Some were hidden under the seats of crowded public buses - and all were detonated with timers at carefully staggered intervals.
Two doctors were killed by explosions in two adjoining hospitals.
"Never before have we seen such ruthless bombings of hospitals. The terrorists' objective was to strike the defenceless and deepen the fear," said a senior security official.
Pankaj Patel said that his son, Rohan, and daughter, Pratha, were killed at Ahmedabad hospital.
"I came with my two children to cheer up my mother [in] hospital. They were laughing when the blast occurred. Now they are dead," he said.
O. P. Mathur, the city's police commissioner, said another unexploded device had been found. Around 30 people had been detained for questioning, he added.
"Anti-national elements have been trying to create panic among the people of our country. The Ahmedabad blasts are part of the same strategy," said Shivraj Patil, the home affairs minister.
The aim was to trigger communal bloodshed between Hindus and Muslims in the volatile city, he added.
Six years ago, Ahmedabad and the surrounding state of Gujarat endured a month-long pogrom, targeted mainly at Muslims, during which at least 2,500 people were murdered.
A little-known group styling itself the "Indian Mujahideen" claimed responsibility for the bombings in an email sent to local television channels minutes before the first explosion at around 6.30pm yesterday. This message declared that the attack was retribution for the killings of Muslims in 2002.
Narendra Modi, Gujarat's chief minister from the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, is one of India's most controversial politicians. He stands accused of organising anti-Muslim riots six years ago and inciting murders. The United States has placed him on a banned list and refused to issue him with a visa.
Indian Mujahideen has also claimed responsibility for last November's bombings in the city of Jaipur, which killed 63 people.
In a similar message sent moments before the attack, the group said the blasts were retaliation for India's alliance with America and Britain.
But Indian and Western security officials believe the "Indian Mujahideen" is merely a new name for Islamist extremist groups, based in neighbouring Bangladesh and Pakistan, which have carried out frequent attacks in India's cities.
Their central grievance is India's control over a large area of the disputed territory of Kashmir, which has a Muslim majority. They also object to the country's strategic and defence co-operation with the West, especially America.
"The command and control for all recent serial bombings and terrorist strikes remain the same and appear to be based in India's neighbourhood," said Arun Sahgal, a retired Brigadier and security analyst with the United Service Institute said.
Sources in India's Federal Intelligence Bureau the attacks demonstrated the ability of foreign insurgent groups to strike "anywhere" by using disaffected Muslims as "carriers". Around 13 per cent of India's 1.2 billion people are Muslims.
Over 550 people have been killed in 11 major terrorist attacks across India since October 2005. None of them has been solved so far - and no convictions secured.
source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Office Of Fair Trade: 6 Cos Fined In Tobacco Probe
The companies are Asda, First Quench, Gallaher, One Stop Stores (formerly named T&S Stores), Somerfield, and TM Retail.
Friday's agreements result from a process following the OFT's Statement of Objections issued in
The OFT has now concluded early resolution agreements with these six parties, each of which has admitted liability in respect of all of the infringements alleged against it, and each of these parties will receive a significant reduction in the financial penalty that might have otherwise been imposed on condition that it continues to provide full co-operation with the OFT.
A number of the six parties had previously applied to the OFT for leniency, and the total penalties the parties have agreed to pay if all leniency and early resolution discounts are given is
The investigation against The Co-operative Group,
The OFT will consider these carefully, along with the evidence in the case as a whole, before reaching any final decision as to whether the law has been breached.
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