LaRue Martin's Story Proves One of Redemption, Success

Filed under: Trail Blazers, NBA Draft

CHICAGO -- In the summer of 2008, a letter arrived at the Chicago office of LaRue Martin. He opened it and was stunned by what he read.

The letter had been written by former Portland owner Larry Weinberg. He had heard how the one-time Trail Blazers center had turned his life around.

"You certainly are a wonderful role model in the work you are doing for UPS,'' Weinberg wrote July 19, 2008.

Martin felt a great sense of relief. For years, he believed he had let down the Trail Blazers by not living up to expectations as the No. 1 pick in the 1972 draft. And here was the former owner lauding him for his work later in life.

"I was shocked to death,'' Martin, 60, said of getting the letter. "(Weinberg wrote), 'LaRue, I'm very proud of you and what you've turned out to be. Basketball maybe was up and down for you but look at you.' He said, 'I'm very proud to be associated with you.'''

After 36 years, redemption had arrived.

Martin had been taken out of Chicago's Loyola University in 1972 ahead of No. 2 pick Bob McAdoo, a future Hall of Famer. But the 6-foot-11 Martin would go down as the biggest bust in NBA draft history.

In four seasons, Martin averaged a mere 5.3 points and 4.6 rebounds before being waived out of the league, his career done at 26. The years after were hard as Martin struggled to come to terms with his unsuccessful playing career. He had gotten an ulcer and became an alcoholic.

Eventually, though, Martin became a success in another walk of life. For the past 25 years, he's worked for UPS, the last 15 as community services manager of the Illinois district.

 

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/01/25/larue-martins-story-proves-one-of-redemption-success/

Jessica Paré Jessica Simpson Jessica White

US Ties Chile, 1-1, as Young Strikers Juan Agudelo and Teal Bunbury Impress

Filed under: International Soccer, US Soccer, Colorado Rapids, D.C. United, Kansas City Wizards, New York Red Bulls, San Jose Earthquakes

For the second time in two national team appearances, teen sensation Juan Agudelo entered as a substitute and made the difference for the Americans.

Two months ago in South Africa, his 85th-minute goal was the difference in 1-0 win over the hosts. On Saturday night in Southern California, the 18-year-old drew the penalty kick that lifted the U.S. to a 1-1 tie with Chile.

Fellow reserve Teal Bunbury confidently converted the penalty in the 74th minute (video below), but it was Agudelo's enterprising and incisive run through the heart of the Chilean defense that was the highlight.

The play started with a long low pass from central defender Tim Ream, and Agudelo, who had entered the game along with Bunbury just 15 minutes earlier, unhinged the opposition with a give-and-go with midfielder Alejandro Bedoya. Dribbling into the penalty area at speed, Agudelo was upended by Chile's Sebastián Toro.

 

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Source: http://soccer.fanhouse.com/2011/01/22/us-ties-chile-1-1-as-young-strikers-juan-agudelo-and-teal-bunb/

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The Works: Who Are the NBA's Ten Best Ten-Year Vets?

Filed under: Celtics, Lakers, Mavericks, The Works

Today in The Works: Old people we admire, and why. It's very subjective.

Still Awesome After All These Years

The NBA is largely a young man's league, a place where athleticism and youthful energy can still get a team far. Teams, though, depend on the efficiency and smarts that usually only come with experience. However, at some point age becomes a weight rather than a positive. The players who can play great even into their dotage deserve praise, and that's why we decided to honor the 10 best players with 10 years of experience. Odd picks belong to Eric, evens are from Shoals (except for 7 and 8, which somehow got swapped because we forgot math).

 

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/01/26/the-works-who-are-the-nbas-ten-best-ten-year-vets/

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Evening ticker: Onalfo joins Galaxy, Van Der Sar retiring in May and more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SoccerByIves/~3/8zdrfMj4nJI/evening-ticker-onalfo-joins-galaxy-van-der-sarr-retiring-in-may-and-more.html

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Pro Hopefuls to Swap Paint in Annual Shrine Game

Filed under: Fans

Lights, camera, action. The East-West Shrine game -- the first major college football all-star game of the NFL draft season -- kicks off Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

While most of the more than 200 NFL scouts and team officials that attended practices this week are expecting to identify most of their potential early round picks at next week's Senior Bowl in Alabama, a number of players in the Shrine game are looking to boost their profiles for the NFL Draft.

"There are gems to be found here every year," Paul Burmeister of the NFL Network told FanHouse.

 

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Source: http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2011/01/22/pro-hopefuls-to-swap-paint-in-annual-shrine-game/

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Chris Johnson's Goal Remains the Same: 2,500 Rushing Yards in 2011

Filed under: Titans, AFC South

In terms of his goals, Chris Johnson said he doesn't much care what people think.

Johnson, the Tennessee Titans' three-time Pro Bowl running back, set a goal this past season of rushing for 2,500 yards, and although he fell well short of the goal, he told The Tennessean Wednesday that nothing has changed.

His goal for 2011? You guessed it.

"I have the same goal: 2,500,'' Johnson, who rushed for 1,364 yards in 2010, said. "I want to win more, but I still have the same goals. I want to go for 2,500. ... It is very realistic. I had a good season last year.

"I know a lot of people said I didn't have a good year, but I did. When you put the stats up there, I had a good year. Some people say I had a bad year, but I set my standards so high people expect that.''

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/01/27/chris-johnsons-goal-remains-the-same-2-500-rushing-yards-in-20/

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Martin Kaymer Grows Lead to Five Strokes at Abu Dhabi Championship

Filed under: European Tour

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Defending champion Martin Kaymer extended his lead at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship to five strokes over Rory McIlroy after shooting a 6-under 66 in the third round on Saturday.

Kaymer, the 2010 PGA Championship winner, birdied three of his last four holes to total 18-under 198 at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

"The great thing is I've made only one bogey so far, and that was the first day," Kaymer said. "I played very consistently. I've made a lot of birdies the last three days."

McIlroy finished birdie-eagle for a 65 to move into second place.

David Lynn of England (67) is at 204, two strokes ahead of Race to Dubai leader Charl Schwartzel of South Africa (71) and Alexander Noren of Sweden (67).

U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell struggled with putting and finished with a 71. Paul Casey of England (67) made a hole-in-one at the 12th.

Four-time major winner Phil Mickelson was 3 under at the turn, only to make four bogeys on the back nine. He shot a 72 and trails the leader by 15 strokes. Top-ranked Lee Westwood had a 73 and is tied for 65th.

Kaymer beat McIlroy by two shots in last year's tournament, and the Northern Irishman is aware he faces a challenge on Sunday.

"Kaymer is very, very good on this golf course," McIlroy said. "He's always good when leading from the front as well, so I'm going to have a difficult time to try and catch him."

 

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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2011/01/22/martin-kaymer-grows-lead-at-abu-dhabi/

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