ight I will proudly hold up Jessies arm in vic | Forum

HOUSTON -- This wasnt how the weekend seemed destined to play out, not with the Houston Astros in dogged pursuit of a postseason berth as an American League wild card and not with the lowly Los Angeles Angels playing out the string in a disappointing season. Jarred Vanderbilt Jersey .On Saturday night, the Angels set the stage for a series sweep on Sunday with a 10-4 victory over the fading Astros (81-74), scoring nine runs in their final two at-bats to erase a three-run deficit and stun Houston for a second consecutive game.In dropping their third successive game to the Angels, the Astros fell three games behind the Orioles for the second wild-card spot with seven games to play. Also between the Astros and Orioles are the Tigers (83-71) and Mariners (81-73), a sour turn of events for the Astros after they entered the weekend one game out of the postseason and hosting a team theyd defeated 11 times in 12 meetings.Obviously, its tough, said Astros right fielder George Springer, who finished 4-for-5 with a triple and an RBI. This is a tough stretch for us, but thats a good team over there. You can never count them out. They always play us tough and they have the last three days. But we have to come out tomorrow and it has to happen.Rookie right-hander Joe Musgrove (3-4, 4.42 ERA) will make his first career start against the Angels (69-86) looking to help the Astros avert the sweep. Musgrove allowed one run and two hits in 5 1/3 innings on Sept. 20 at Oakland while pitching Houston to a 2-1 win.Musgrove has enjoyed a strong start to his career at Minute Maid Park, surrendering just six runs in 29 innings in five appearances (four starts) at home.Like Musgrove against Los Angeles, Angels right-hander Daniel Wright (0-4, 7.48 ERA) will make his first career appearance against the Astros. Wright, claimed off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds on Sept. 4, will make his fourth appearance for the Angels, his eighth appearance overall and sixth start on the season.Wright made his Angels debut on Sept. 10 against the Rangers and did not factor in the decision. He made his major league debut with Cincinnati on May 24 at Dodger Stadium and pitched in four games (two starts) with the Reds before his release.Behind solid starts from Ricky Nolasco, Alex Meyer and Jhoulys Chacin, and consecutive late-inning rallies against the Houston bullpen, the Angels have built surprising momentum heading into the series finale and the final week of the season. Whether they can carry that momentum into Sunday remains to be seen, but at this juncture, the Angels have made significant strides at the Astros expense.It always gives you confidence when youre playing at a level, especially when youre coming back to win some games, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. But every game is its only little story. You need to build momentum from pitch one of tomorrows game to keep going. The first three games weve done a good job of that. Thomas Welsh Nuggets Jersey .ca! Kerry, Two nights after the Scott-Eriksson incident in Buffalo, the Bruins returned home to play San Jose. In that game, Zdeno Chara put a check on Tommy Wingels that clearly targeted his head. Gary Harris Nuggets Jersey . -- Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings was selected Monday to his second straight Pro Bowl, while guard Kyle Long made it after a solid rookie season. http://www.nuggetsprostore.com/kids-allen-iverson-nuggets-jersey/ .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. LAS VEGAS -- Welterweight world titleholder Jessie Vargas casually strode into a ballroom at The Wynn resort on Wednesday, laughing, joking and greeting writers by name. He didnt seem to have a care in the world.In March, Vargas was the underdog when he knocked out then-undefeated former U.S. Olympian Sadam Ali in the ninth round to win a vacant world title. Vargas was confident then, but now the confidence he exudes seems tenfold as he heads into his first defense against the great Manny Pacquiao on Saturday night (Top Rank PPV, 9 ET) at the Thomas & Mack Center.To me, its just another fight, another opponent, said Vargas, who will be fighting in his hometown.It really isnt just another fight or opponent, however. Vargas is in the biggest fight of his life, on a worldwide stage. He is about to face Pacquiao, a boxing legend, the icon of the Philippines and the first sitting senator to fight for a world title.Even though he has never been in a fight of this magnitude, Vargas said he has been able to handle the spotlight and keep calm because of past experiences leading to this moment.Whats probably helped me in my career is that Ive fought on major cards before, Floyd [Mayweather] undercards, huge events, Pacquiao undercards, pay-per-view undercards, where I first became world champion [as a junior welterweight], Vargas said. They were large events and my fights got a lot of attention. I feel it prepared me for this situation. So I know what to expect.Me now being in this position, its nothing new to me. I got a little taste of it before. I knew what I was in for and I am ready for it. Now its my time. Now its time for everyone to talk about me come Saturday night. He seems like a good guy, but as soon as the bell rings its all business.One reason for Vargas confident demeanor is the similar cool and focus displayed by his trainer, former pro fighter Dewey Cooper, who enters his second fight at the helm of Vargas corner.Im a level-headed guy so its another fight for me. I dont stress. Were looking forward for this opportunity, Cooper said. This is what we do this sport for. We dont do it to be B team. We do this to be the very best in the world in every aspect.Vargas is 27 and in his prime and Pacquiao is 37, coming out of a brief retirement and in the twilight of a career in which he became the only boxer to win world titles in eight weight classes. It is that age difference -- not the résumé -- that is meaningful to Vargas, who knows that boxing is generally a young mans sport.What I am focused on is that I am in my prime, Vargas said. I have a lot to show and I have a lot to give in this sport, and on [Saturday] I am going to perform at the highest level.Pacquiao (58-6-2, 38 KOs) is coming off one of his best performances in years, when he outclassed and outpointed rival Timothy Bradley Jr. in their third fight in April, followed by a retirement that lasted for five months. Vargas said he loves that Pacquiao looked good last time out so he can get credit for beating him.Im happy that he was able to give that performance so when I defeat Manny Pacquiao, they will see that I beat a good Manny Pacquiao who is still performing at the highest level, Vargas said. Thats the Manny Pacquiao that I want to beat.Bradley outpointed Vargas (27-1, 10 KOs) in fairly one-sided fashion in June 2015. But there was controversy because Vargas badly hurt him in the 12th round and nearly knocked him out in the final seconds, but before Vargas had a chance to see if he could finish Bradley, the referee accidentally stopped the fight aboout seven seconds early when he mixed up the sound of the 10-second warning clapper with the final bell. Dikembe Mutombo Jersey. Vargas was livid and filed a formal protest to the California State Athletic Commission, but the result stood and he moved on.It was a learning experience, everything that happened, Vargas said. Not everything is fair and we had to let things go. Thats just the way it is and I am using it as an experience and make sure I let my hands go from the opening bell, not until nearly the last round.It gave me that fire, that anger to -- excuse me if I say it -- to really hurt somebody or kill somebody inside that ring, and to take it and not have any compassion for my opponent. That has built a stronger Jessie Vargas.Said Cameron Dunkin, Vargas manager: He had a bright future and it was a setback and he did take it very, very hard. It was hard on him. He was not used to losing. We talked and he wanted to go through the steps of what he could do with the commission and when that was over, Jessie dropped it and he was done with it and he said, Cameron, lets move on. And thats what we did.Vargas then beat Ali for a title and had an agreement in place to travel to England to face Kell Brook in a unification fight in September. But the deal ultimately was not finalized when the Brook camp wanted to reduce the money following the impact of the Brexit on the British currency. Vargas wound up getting an even bigger fight with Pacquiao.This is where I belong, Vargas said. Ive been waiting for this moment since I was 8 years old. This moment is not so big. Its here and I am going to take full advantage of it.When you envision something in your head over and over again, its like a movie placing you in that position, and once you are there youre ready. Thats the way I see it. I am so ready for this. I am in the best shape of my life. I have never felt this strong or this powerful. I am going to win this fight, thats how good I feel about it.Vargas is about an 8-to-1 underdog at The Wynn sports book and a victory would launch him into the big time, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said.He becomes not just a champion but a superstar. I will deny to him that I said that, because I will have to negotiate his next fight, Arum, who promotes Pacquiao and Vargas, said with a laugh. He would be a superstar. There is no question about that if he were to beat Manny Pacquiao. He has a hell of a shot to do that.Vargas trainer, Cooper, couldnt agree more.Jessie and I consider this fight the passing of the torch. We appreciate the body of work Manny has compiled in his illustrious career. However, as we all know, good things must come to an end and that will happen on [Saturday], Cooper said. This will be our moment, our time for a younger world champion to shine and earn the admiration of the fighting world.This moment is not too big for us. After this fight I will proudly hold up Jessies arm in victory. The torch will be passed.Vargas knows he is the big underdog but he also knows that a victory would be life-changing.It would definitely put me on the worldwide stage, make me that boxing star that I have been looking forward to being, Vargas said. I have been waiting for this for a long time and Im glad its here and I am going to take advantage of it.The only fighters to beat Manny Pacquiao have become legends themselves. So I plan to become one of the few to beat Manny Pacquiao and also become one of the legends. ' ' '