Heat-Celtics Game 7 draws big TV rating
abercrombie uk outlet MIAMI (AP) The Miami Heat's win over the Boston Celtics to reach the NBA finals has drawn the highest preliminary television rating for an NBA playoff game on cable since records started being kept in 2003.Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals Saturday night on ESPN produced a 9.1 overnight rating. The network said Sunday that the three highest overnight ratings for NBA games on cable have come during this series.In Boston, the game had a 21.7 rating, the highest on cable for an NBA playoff game in the market since records started being kept in 2003.Ratings represent the percentage of all homes with televisions tuned into a program. Overnight ratings measure the country's largest markets...Cornett and other city officials began laying the foundation to attract a NBA franchise after Hurricane Katrina, playing host to the New Orleans Hornets for two years. It was enough for some Oklahoma sports fans to begin pushing the Sooners' seven national football championships and Oklahoma State's 34 national wrestling titles to the back of their minds.''It just started out with the Hornets, and then getting a team of our own has been a dream come true,'' said Eric Loftis, a season-ticket holder who lives in Norman. ''We just forgot about football and everything else. It's just our team, the only team we've ever had.''Associated Press writers Jeff Latzke in Oklahoma City, Sean Murphy in Phoenix and Justin Juozapavicius in Tulsa contributed to this report.
cheap abercrombie outlet uk Spain and Italy draw in a Euro 2012 opener, prompting Spanish consternation and Italian joy.Andres Iniesta believes Spain no longer can be considered the favorite to win an unprecedented three straight international titles at Euro 2012 after its labored 1-1 draw with Italy in Gdansk on Sunday. Iniesta, a Spanish midfielder who scored the winner in the World Cup final in 2010, recognized that the reigning European champion will need to perform at a significantly higher level to retain its crown. An equalizing second-half goal from Cesc Fabregas rescued a point for Spain in its opening Group C clash, after Antonio Di Natale had put Italy ahead on the hour. There needs to be more from us," Iniesta said. "We know this competition is going to be difficult, and it will be our toughest challenge to date for certain. Everything we have achieved in the past was wonderful, but it doesn't help us here. "Of course it is our stated target to emerge as champions again, but for that to become a reality then we need to increase our levels. This is not enough." Failing to win its opening game should not be seen as a disaster for Spain. Italy was the team that took it closest at Euro 2008, playing out a 0-0 draw in the quarterfinal before losing in a penalty shootout. In the World Cup, Spain suffered a shock defeat to Switzerland in its first match before reeling off six consecutive wins to lift the trophy. [Related: England team contemplates walkoff if players are targets of racist abuse]However,
abercrombie outlet there are concerns among Spain fans that the squad does not seem to have the same level of cohesion as in previous tournaments, a belief fueled by not-so-private bickering between players from La Liga rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona. The suspicions may have merit, but it also would be no surprise to see Spain iron out any wrinkles and rediscover top form before too long. A safe passage to the quarterfinals should be negotiated without too much difficulty, with games against Ireland and Croatia coming up. Spain must be considered a favorite against any opponent, regardless of what Iniesta said.For a while Sunday, it looked as if Spain might be headed for a loss. Italy had done well to stifle Spain's flowing passing game, which seemed to lack a fraction of its trademark flair. Italy's breaks had some snap to them, and Di Natale's goal came courtesy of an excellent finish. Andrea Pirlo slid a beautiful pass through the Spain defense and Di Natale, who had only been on the field for a few minutes after replacing Mario Balotelli, clipped the ball calmly past Iker Casillas. [Related: Denmark beats Netherlands despite controversial social media ban by coach]Falling behind seemed to restore some of Spain's luster, for a while at least. David Silva set up Fabregas for the equalizer, and the Barcelona midfielder made no mistake from close range. For Italy, this was a positive start to Euro, and the side seemed to have been energized rather than distracted by the match-fixing scandal rocking Italian soccer. However, Spain could have snatched a late victory and likely would have if not for Fernando Torres' ongoing struggles in front of goal.
abercrombie and fitch outlet A string of better performances late in the season earned Torres his place on the squad, but he still lacks his former killer touch in front of goal and squandered two late chances after coming on as a substitute. He, like many of his teammates,will need things to click into place if he is going to make a serous impact on the tournament.Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports:Banks accepts Seahawks minicamp tryout offer..SEATTLE (AP) Brian Banks isn't going to pass up an offer from Seattle coach Pete Carroll to keep his NFL dreams alive.Banks' agent, Bruce Tollner confirmed Sunday that after flying to Kansas City for a workout with the Chiefs, Banks is expected to head to the Pacific Northwest and participate in the Seahawks' minicamp. The minicamp starts Tuesday, and Banks' first day taking part with the Seahawks is expected to be Wednesday.The 26-year-old Banks was a one-time high school star at Long Beach Poly who was recently exonerated in a California rape case in which he was falsely accused. Banks served more than five years in prison and was on probation wearing an electronic monitoring bracelet around his ankle when a judge threw out the conviction late last month. Banks pleaded no contest 10 years ago on the advice of a lawyer after a childhood friend falsely accused him of attacking her on their high school campus.In a strange turn of events, the woman later recanted her claim and offered to help Banks clear his name after he was out of prison, a process that led to his conviction being overturned and his record cleared.
abercrombie and fitch uk ''This is a great illustration for us of why people deserve a second chance and because of what he's overcome and because of what lies ahead for him in his life, this is just one step but it is a step that he's been dreaming about for a long time,'' Carroll said last week. ''It's just such a great illustration about not giving up and about competing for what you want and not letting the circumstances or your surroundings dictate what's going to happen in your life.''Banks had a private workout at the Seahawks' practice facility Thursday where he was put through a variety of drills and ran a 40-yard dash. Banks, a star linebacker in high school, measured 6-foot-2 and 239 pounds and is getting looked at as a linebacker option for the Seahawks.Following the workout, Carroll said he wanted to bring Banks' back for the minicamp and see him on the field. Banks initially hesitated saying he needed to speak with his agent about his other options, causing Carroll to joke that he needed to recruit Banks yet again. Banks had given a verbal commitment to play football at USC for Carroll before the accusations were made and Banks ended up in jail.While impressed with his raw athleticism during his private workout last week, Carroll freely acknowledged that Banks is not refined to the level of an NFL linebacker and whatever expectations are placed on Banks need to reflect his lack of football schooling during the last 10 years.Banks did say that after his release from prison, he played one season of football at Long Beach City College in 2007.''I'm honored to have all of these people, all of these coaches from different teams give me this opportunity with not seeing me play in so long,'' Banks said last week
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