hskgjs

Reporting from Washington— After taking to Twitter last week to declare his belief in evolution and global warming, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. sought again Sunday to cast himself as a moderate in a field of extreme Republican presidential candidates.

Huntsman said on ABC’s “This Week” that he “wouldn’t necessarily trust any” of his opponents on the economy, criticized Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann for suggesting that as president she would bring per-gallon gas prices below $2, and called Texas Gov. Rick Perry “unelectable.”

Bachmann is pandering to “tea party” supporters, he said.

“I just don’t know what world that comment would come from,” Hunstman said. “You know, we live in the real world. It’s grounded in reality. And gas prices just aren’t going to rebound like that.”
Asked about Perry’s view that global warming is a “scientific theory that has not been proven,” he called the Texas governor “on the wrong side of science and therefore in a losing position.”

“I think when you find yourself at an extreme end of the Republican Party, you make yourself unelectable,” Huntsman told ABC’s Jake Tapper.

Of Mitt Romney’s position on taxes, Huntsman delivered a familiar critique: “You know, if we were to talk about his inconsistencies and the changes on various issues, we’d be here all afternoon.”

Huntsman, who served as President Obama’s ambassador to China, called the president too liberal.

Since entering the presidential race in late June, Huntsman has polled poorly and largely sidestepped Iowa. On Sunday, he said he would focus on New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida with “a center-right message for a center-right country.”

“You know, in New Hampshire, they pick presidents,” he said. “I know they pick something else in Iowa.”

The Glendale City Council agreed 5-2 late Tuesday to pay the National Hockey League up to an additional $25 million so the Phoenix Coyotes could stay another year in the desert.The vote came at the end of a standing-room-only meeting that stretched longer than three hours.The council meeting was the most fractious since Glendale’s battle to keep the professional hockey team began publicly two years ago with the team’s bankruptcy. Since then, Glendale has sought to find an owner willing to play at the city-owned Jobing.com Arena for years to come.During a meeting break, a resident began shouting about the city’s debt burden, which is higher than most cities of the same size.”This city is bankrupt!” the man shouted.Coyotes fans immediately silenced him with boos.Glendale officials have argued the city’s investments to keep the team are necessary to protect its investment in the sports and entertainment district off Loop 101 and Glendale Avenue.NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said he’s optimistic about the team deal.”We’re much closer to the finish line than we’ve ever been,” he told the council. “We’re in a much better place tonight than we were a year ago.”PHOTOS: A look at the Phoenix CoyotesHe said the team’s ticket sales, season ticket renewals and revenue all improved this past season.The Coyotes still lost $37 million last season and posted among the lowest attendance in the league. But the Coyotes are the arena’s main tenant, attracting thousands of fans to Glendale during 41 games per season.Glendale uses sales taxes from fans’ dining and shopping at the adjacent Westgate City Center as well as team payments to pay off the $180 million the city spent to open the arena in 2003.The pledge allows Glendale to continue work on an arena lease with team buyer Matthew Hulsizer through the 2011-12 season. In return, Glendale agrees to cover team and arena losses for a second season of up to $25 million, until a team buyer takes over.Glendale made a similar bargain a year ago.The city paid $25 million this month to the NHL to fulfill the pledge it made last year to keep the Coyotes through the recently ended season.In both situations, Glendale officials seemed on the verge of completing a deal with a team buyer. But they said the NHL was prepared to move the team unless the city agreed to cover losses.The money for the first pledge came from a long-term utilities account. Glendale officials said they had not yet decided where they would pull the second $25 million from but that the city has budgeted for it.One difference in the current agreement: the NHL obtains the right to renew the agreement yearly for 10 years.Nearly 300 people jammed the council chambers to standing room only. Coyotes President Mike Nealy and General Manager Don Maloney took seats in support. No members of Hulsizer’s group attended.City Manager Ed Beasley said the city would have to pay to operate the arena for concerts and events even if the team left.Greater Phoenix Economic Council President Barry Broome said he was there to support the city.”There’s some very tough decisions you’re making on this,” he said. “I can’t underscore how important these (sports) assets are to the Valley.”Coyotes fans, some with kids in tow, applauded the council’s support of the deal.Amy Jo Green asked Glendale to hurry resolution of the team deal.”If this drama is wearing on me, our casual fans are toast,” she said. “Keep the Coyotes here, let us give you our money in taxes and please, please, please rush the situation.”Some residents and members of the Glendale Tea Party Patriots, however, voiced anger over the city keeping the team afloat. They held signs saying “No NHL or Hulsizer $.”Kurt Larson, a Glendale resident and business owner, argued that like “socialized health care,” the city’s pledge to keep the Coyotes is “getting socialized sports.”"We’re on a slippery slope,” he said. “There can’t just be this bottomless pit of dollars to underwrite the Coyotes.”Other residents praised the pledge.Steve Gilman said he worried about Westgate shops and restaurants suffering.”If we allow the Coyotes to leave, that area of Glendale has the potential to become a ghost town,” he said. “I ask you, I beg you to allow the Coyotes to stay.. .. I think it’s a smart business decision.”No one thought the city’s efforts to settle the team’s future would take this long.Glendale repeatedly seemed to be on the verge of a permanent deal with various bidder groups interested in the team.The most recent has been with Chicago trader Hulsizer, who reached a deal with Glendale in December to play at the arena.But the deal hinged on $100 million in financing from Glendale that the city has failed to obtain. Glendale said the money was to purchase the right to charge for parking during arena events. Hulsizer intended to put the money, and his own, towards the team’s purchase price.Glendale blames the Goldwater Institute, a conservative Valley watchdog, for holding up its deal. The institute has promised to sue if Glendale pays Hulsizer without proving a roughly proportional economic value in return. Goldwater said it is looking out for taxpayers.The city’s pledge triggered one hiccup to Hulsizer’s ownership group.Ice Edge Holdings, a group of East Coast and Canadian businessmen, recently pulled out as minority investors.Ice Edge was one of the original bidders for the Coyotes in 2009. The group became a front-runner for the team, but its arena deal with Glendale hit a wall. Hulsizer entered the picture a few weeks later.”We have been involved with this for two years,” said Anthony LeBlanc, who led Ice Edge in most of its negotiations with Glendale. “We just didn’t feel comfortable spending any additional time on it.”Brad Goldberg, a spokesman for the Hulsizer ownership group, said Ice Edge’s departure would not hurt the deal with Glendale.LeBlanc agreed Hulsizer would be able to replace Ice Edge’s financial contribution. He declined to be specific but said it was “a small amount.”

It’s riveting and scintillating, even if the local team is still sitting and waiting. The Red Wings are watching, and they’re seeing what we’re seeing — playoff games that are up and down, back and forth, ooh-filled and aah-filled.Playoff hockey generally is very good. This year’s Stanley Cup drama has been better than ever, packed with enough game swings and series swings to keep everyone entertained.Well, everyone but the coaches.”It’s way more nerve-wracking watching than coaching, I can tell you that,” Mike Babcock said Monday. “I’m way more comfortable just being on the bench than watching. I can’t stand that. I couldn’t be a fan, I’d be a nervous mess. I’m not even in the series and I can’t sleep after the games are over.”That’s the prevailing reaction around the Wings’ dressing room, as they heal up, rest up and get fired up watching other teams battle. The Wings haven’t played since finishing their sweep of Phoenix last Wednesday, and probably won’t play again until Thursday or Friday, potentially a nine-day layoff. That’s because other series just aren’t ending. When teams get down in the playoffs now, they don’t stay down.Chicago has rallied from a 3-0 series deficit to force a Game 7 at Vancouver. Incredibly, Canucks coach Alain Vigneault was compelled to bench alleged star goalie Roberto Luongo, then had to bring him back when the backup got injured. San Jose rallied from a 4-0 second-period deficit to beat Los Angeles, but the Kings bounced back to avoid elimination.The tension has been unrelenting, with 11 overtime games already, and the first round isn’t even over. This is what the NHL wanted, enforcing the rules tighter and calling more penalties, thus creating more power plays and picturesque goals. Buffalo-Philadelphia and Montreal-Boston each have gone to overtime twice in a row, and who knows which way those series will spin.These are the Stanley Cup playoffs in a time of parity and power plays. The high-scoring action might make the coaches and goalies nervous, but it’s great fun for the fans. Well, at least until their team is back on the ice, and back on that ledge.

Indianapolis made a late run last season to win the AFC South, but there are definite holes on this team that kept them from advancing in last years post-season.
The Colts offensive line was atrocious in several games last season and must be addressed if QB Peyton Manning is to lead this team to another division title. Manning was harassed and had perhaps his worst season since his second year in the league.
Indianapolis has the 22nd overall selection on Thursday, and it would be a shock if they didn’t address the need for an offensive lineman. The Colts need to upgrade at nearly every spot on the line and can use this pick to take the best offensive lineman available.
OT Derek Sherrod was a two-year starter while at Mississippi State and played very well against the tough competition of the SEC. Sherrod has moved up in the draft with his personal workouts and has had several meetings with the Colts front office.
G Mike Pouncey of Florida is considered the best interior offensive lineman in the draft and has the skills to play guard or center. Pouncey is a solid choice for a team that could use an upgrade at both of these positions. If the tackle the Colts are looking to take is already gone in the draft, look for Pouncey to be the selection.
Indianapolis could also use some help on the defensive line, but keeping Manning upright has to be the team’s top priority.
If you’re a fan of the Colts, chime in on what position and player you would select in the first round, and leave a comment giving the reason for your choice.

From being a kid on wobbly skates chasing a slippery puck, nearly every hockey player grows up dreaming he’ll make the big time. What the Western Hockey League brings to Victoria is young players still living that dream.
The Salmon Kings are bowing out of town with a heartfelt and thrilling playoff run, but once players reach their minor pro level, only a few will climb through the razor wire hoops of luck and timing to get to the AHL and NHL. The dream often gets checked by reality.
Although the two leagues can’t really be compared — the WHL is made up of amateur juniors in a Canadian-based league, and the ECHL employs adult pros playing, except for Victoria, in the United States — it’s the intangible difference that’s seems to be the biggest. It’s the dream factor, the nightly battle of hope and expectation in the WHL, that has it coming back to Victoria.
“It’s a new perspective,” said team owner Graham Lee, who brought in the ECHL, eventually planning to secure a WHL team. With Victoria roots that stretch back to his grandparents in the early 1900s, Lee appreciates the aspect of having his players involved in the fabric of the community.
“I see this as a natural evolution,” said Lee, who would like to see as many Island players as possible on the team. “It’s about developing hockey players, it’s about youth, and it’s about creating better people.”
The youth of the new Victoria team begins with 14- and 15-year-olds at the bantam draft in May. Each of the teams — 22 in the WHL and another 38 in the Ontario and Quebec Major Junior leagues — carries a 23-man roster, of which three can be age 20. Each team also has a 50-player protected list, to provide security for their team and draftees.
The Victoria contingent will begin training camp for their 72-game regular season the last week of August, play an exhibition schedule starting Sept. 1, and kick off the season for real the last week of September.
The routine will be quite a departure from the ECHL. The pro league has recruiting but no draft, plays scant exhibition games — the S-Kings, featuring players ages 23 to 29, had two against UBC last fall — and has a season beginning Oct. 15.
“The WHL or CHL (Canadian Hockey League) is a bigger entity. It’s an exponential jump in profile from the ECHL,” team president Dave Dakers said, adding WHL games are broadcast on radio, and television. The annual world junior championship is one of most watched hockey events of the year.
“The difference is how you perceive what you’re watching,” Dakers said. “You’re watching young men play who have this as their dream.
“You can just cheer for these guys wholeheartedly, like you would for your own children — you just want them to be successful.”
The Victoria WHLers will be billeted around Victoria and attend local schools. Those beyond Grade 12 usually enroll in college or university courses, and they’ll all study on the bus. The WHL doesn’t allow teams to fly for road trips.
“We’ll be very well known at the buffet on the ferry,” Dakers said.

For the fans that complained that undeserving teams played for the national championship during last month’s NCAA men’s college-basketball tournament, take comfort in the NBA playoffs. Relatively speaking, it’s a Cinderella-free sport.In the past 25 years, the team with the NBA’s best regular-season record went on to win the title 11 times (44%)—easily the highest frequency among the four major pro sports and men’s college basketball. In the NHL, the league that comes closest, the best regular-season squad won the Stanley Cup just 29.2% of the time. In the NCAA tournament, the overall No. 1 seed won the national title game just three times since 1986 (12%).
This bodes well for the Chicago Bulls, who at 62-20 had the best record in the NBA this season. However, despite their stellar year, the Bulls went into the playoffs with the third-best odds to win the championship at 7/2, trailing the Los Angeles Lakers (11/4) and the Miami Heat (13/4). Chicago won the first two games of its opening-round series against the Indiana Pacers.
In reality, the complaints about the NCAA tournament can be applied to every league in recent years, as the best teams in the five sports we looked at have won the title just four times since 2004. It last happened in baseball with the 2009 New York Yankees. In the NBA, the best team last won the championship in 2008, when the Boston Celtics went 66-16 in the regular season before beating the Lakers in six games in the finals.

The next key date in the NBA draft process is Sunday, the deadline for underclassmen to declare for the June 23 event.
They will have until May 8 to withdraw and retain their college eligibility, but the first deadline is an indicator of who could be available when the Pistons pick (likely seventh, but also could go Nos. 1-3 or Nos. 8-10).
Who decides to stay obviously affects the pool of talent available in what NBA scouting representatives are calling a deep draft, but one lacking in impact players.
The draft is obviously affected by the decisions of Ohio State power forward Jared Sullinger, North Carolina jumping jack John Henson and Baylor small forward Perry Jones — at least for now.
But likely lottery picks such as North Carolina shooting guard Harrison Barnes and Colorado combo guard Alec Burks are still wavering.
Burks, a 6-foot-6 sophomore, could be of particular interest to the Pistons if they believe he could play the point and allow them to move Rodney Stuckey to shooting guard. Several mock drafts have him going to the Pistons at No. 7.
But the likely NBA lockout is dampening the enthusiasm of some who in other years might have jumped to the league.
Not so with Burks, according to the Denver Post in an article published Sunday.
“The (potential of a) lockout doesn’t affect me at all,” Burks said. “It might affect somebody else’s decision, but it’s not going to affect mine.
“I feel like the dream is to play in the NBA. I love this game so much. I have the time to succeed. Money will come regardless.”

It was not the postgame celebration they dreamed of. Still, the Centennial Eagles made their way across the court to hug and high-five many of their fans in the first few rows at Comcast Center.Still, having advanced deeper into the playoffs than any team in school history, the Eagles believed they had plenty to be proud of despite a 56-44 loss to Milford Mill of Baltimore in the Maryland 3A championship game on Saturday.
“We are disappointed that we didn’t finish today the way we wanted to, but the season as a whole has been a tremendous success,” said Coach Chad Hollwedel, who guided the team to its first regional title. “This whole experience for the past couple weeks has been a tremendous amount of fun.”
Centennial (20-7) had advanced to the title game by winning a nailbiter in Thursday’s semifinals. But against defending champion Milford Mill, the Eagles fell behind early and only briefly challenged. It was the first time this season, Hollwedel noted, that Centennial never led in the fourth quarter. The team’s previous six losses were by a total of 18 points, with only one by more than three points.
“I never doubted, we were going to come back,” Hollwedel said. “They did a good job of taking away our strengths. Our kids have always found a way all year long, whatever it takes, we were going to fight our way back.”
After making just 1 of 16 shots in the first quarter, the Eagles trailed 17-4 early in the second quarter. However, two three-point shots by Mike Stefan helped close the deficit to 21-16 at halftime.
Milford Mill (26-1), though, scored the first six points of the second half and Centennial never got closer than 10.Matt Harbinson and Keonte Potts scored 11 points each for Centennial, while Stefan added 10. The Eagles’ leading scorer, Aaron Adams, was held to seven points.
“As poorly as we had played on the offensive end, we felt to be down five points was outstanding for us,” Hollwedel said. “That was a little bit deflating [start to the second half]. We were pretty excited coming out of the locker room.”
After the game ended and the teams shook hands, Centennial’s players crossed the court and walked up a few rows in the stands to be congratulated by their fans. “Will the Centennial basketball players please return to the floor for the awards presentation?” the public address announcer asked.
“I feel like we did show we can play with teams of higher caliber,” Harbinson said. “We can hold our heads high because we were able to play with them and showed what we can do.”

Welcome to Blog.com.

This is your first post, produced automatically by Blog.com. You should edit or delete it, and then start blogging!