onday night, Hall of Fame president Jeff | Forum

Liam Neeson is backing Irelands bid to host the Rugby World Cup 2023. Nicklas Backstrom Jersey .The Hollywood star narrates a short film being used to pitch the country against South Africa and France for the tournament.Launching a final push for what would be the biggest event ever put on in Ireland, rugby chiefs revealed the 12 venues that would host the matches.Derrys Celtic Park was a surprise inclusion while uncertainty hangs over Belfasts Casement Park, which has yet to be built. Flagship venues include Croke Park -- one of Europes largest stadiums and home to the Gaelic Athletic Association -- as well as rugby HQ Lansdowne Road in Dublin.Irish premier Enda Kenny said the all-Ireland bid, supported by the governments in Belfast and Dublin, showed how sport could bind up wounds and heal difficulties.Kenny said: This is not going to be easy. But we have every reason to believe we will win the right to host World Cup 2023.Mr Kenny said he was excited about the bid and urged Irelands 80 million strong diaspora to pull on the green jersey to get behind the push.The winning bid will be announced in November next year. Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said he was confident about Irelands prospects.If it does come it will be massive for our economy, it will be massive for tourism, it will be massive for our sport and massive for our people, he added.Noting the inclusion of his native Derrys Celtic Park, he added: Wouldnt it be wonderful to see a Rugby World Cup match played in that city. And wouldnt it be even more wonderful to see Casement Park built.He joked: I hope whatever judge is in charge of whatever appeal goes to the courts is a rugby fan.Philip Browne, chief executive of the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), confirmed the Irish government has underwritten the ￡120m tournament fee.But he said with two million tickets to sell and a knock-on impact on the economy, the six-week competition would be worth €800m (￡692m) to Ireland.Because of the close proximity to England, Scotland and Wales, Mr Browne predicted an Irish World Cup would be the best ever attended.It is probably the biggest event Ireland could ever hope to host, he added.One of Irelands biggest selling points is that the 12 long-listed venues are all central locations and fans would not need to travel far from their lodgings.World Cup bosses will ultimately choose the venues which would probably be whittled down to between eight and 10, Mr Browne said.Others include Belfasts Ravenhill, Dublins RDS, Kilkennys Nowlan Park, Corks Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Killarneys Fitzgerald Stadium, Limericks Thomond Park, Galways Pearse Stadium and Castlebars McHale Park.When you match up the big GAA stadia with the big rugby stadia we have an ideal mix of venues, said Mr Browne.Sports Minister Shane Ross admitted work is needed on some stadiums but added: We have got seven years still to do this, it is a long run-in and we will be well prepared for it. Nic Dowd Capitals Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. T. J. Oshie Jersey . -- Teemu Selanne scored the first goal of his 22nd NHL season, and the Anaheim Ducks extended the best start in franchise history with their fifth straight victory, 3-2 over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. http:///...owd-capitals-jersey/ . -- Five former Kansas City Chiefs players who were on the team between 1987 and 1993 filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming the team hid and even lied about the risks of head injuries during that time period when there was no collective bargaining agreement in place in the NFL. AUTO RACINGINDIANAPOLIS -- Bryan Clauson, considered the top dirt-track racer in the country, has died from injuries suffered in an accident at the Belleville (Kansas) Midget Nationals USAC midget race. He was 27.His death was announced at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A statement from his family was read that said Clauson died Sunday evening and fought to the end.Clauson was leading the race Saturday night when he crashed passing lapped traffic. His car rolled and was hit by another competitor. He was airlifted to a hospital in Nebraska, and died surrounded by his family.Clauson was on pace to compete in 200 races this year. He had 27 victories in 116 starts, and led three laps in the Indianapolis 500 in May.A four-time USAC national champion, Clauson was aiming to become the winningest driver in series history.SOCCERMANCHESTER, England -- Manchester United has made Paul Pogba the worlds most expensive footballer, signing the France midfielder for around 105 million euros ($116 million) four years after releasing him for virtually nothing.United says Pogba signed a five-year deal with an option for a further year.Pogba was a promising 19-year-old when he left United after his contract expired, having only made seven appearances as a substitute. He joined Juventus, which reportedly had to pay 800,000 pounds (now around $1 million) in compensation.Pogba returns as one of the brightest young talents in the game after winning four successive Serie A titles, and for a fee that eclipses the 101 million euros that Real Madrid spent to sign Gareth Bale from Tottenham in 2013.COLLEGE FOOTBALLAn LGBTQ advocacy group has sent a letter to the commissioner of the Big 12 urging the conference to remove BYU from consideration for membership because it says the school has discriminatory policies.Athlete Ally, a nonprofit group that works with sports leagues and organizations on educational and awareness programs, wrote in a letter ... through its policies, BYU is very clear about its intent to discriminate against openly LGBT students ...BYU is owned and operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The schools honor code states that same-gender attraction is not an issue.But it does state, Homosexual behavior is inappropriate and violates the Honor Code. The school honor code requires all students to commit to chastity outside of marriage.MICHAEL JORDANWASHINGTON -- Michael Jordan has made another major donation, pledging $5 million to the Smithsonians new African-American history museum on the National Mall.Officials at the National Museum of African American History and Culture announced the gift from the basketball great. The museum is set to open Sept. 24.In recognition of the gift, the museum will name a section of its sports gallery after Jordan. He also donated a jersey he wore during the 1996 NBA Finals to the museums collection.Last month Jordan spoke out on racial tensions in America in hopes of easing conflicts between blacks and law enforcement.The NBA great and Charlotte Hornets owner also announced he was giving $1 million to the Institute for Community-Police Reelations and another $1 million to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Christian Djoos Capitals Jersey. The aim is to help build trust after several shootings across the country.PRO FOOTBALLSAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Chargers had their seventh training camp practice and once again it didnt include Joey Bosa.Bosa, the third overall pick, remains in a contract dispute with the Chargers.Im worried about the guys that are here, coach Mike McCoy said.Its believed the sticking points between the parties is when Bosas $17 million bonus is distributed and offset language in case he signed another contract if released by the Chargers.The former Ohio State star is the only unsigned player from this years draft.UNDATED -- The Pro Football Hall of Fame will issue refunds to ticket buyers who went home from the NFLs annual preseason kickoff without having watched any football.The competitors for roster spots with the Colts and the Packers wont get the game back, though.I can tell you this: Every one of those young players are upset, Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan said.After Brett Favre stole the show with a humorous, insightful and moving speech during the induction ceremony for his class on Saturday, the talk of league turned the next night to the field. Thats because part of it was congealed, rendering the Indianapolis-Green Bay game unplayable.The traditional exhibition in Canton, Ohio, an extra preseason contest for each team and source of local pride, was canceled when NFL and team officials deemed the turf unsafe due to hardened paint and loosened rubber pellets.PRO HOCKEYCOLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Longtime high school coach Bill Belisle, forward Craig Janney and the 1996 World Cup of Hockey team are this years inductees into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.The class was announced by USA Hockey Executive Director Dave Ogrean on the NHL Network.The 86-year-old Belisle has won 32 state championships in 41 seasons at Mount St. Charles Academy in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, with a record of 990-183-137. Among his players were two No. 1 overall NHL draft picks, Brian Lawton in 1993 and Bryan Berard in 1995, and more than 20 of his players have been drafted, including 2015 U.S. Hockey Hall inductee Mathieu Schneider.Janney is the leader in assists per game among U.S.-born players and was one of the top playmakers of his era. He had 563 assists and 751 points in 760 games.BASEBALLMIAMI -- Ichiro Suzuki has donated to the Hall of Fame some of the gear he wore when he collected his 3,000th career hit, including his jersey, a pair of cleats, his arm guard and batting gloves.The Suzuki collection at the Hall of Fame numbered more than two dozen items even before Sundays triple at Colorado, which made him the first Japanese player to reach 3,000 hits. When he and his Miami Marlins teammates returned to Marlins Park to begin a homestand Monday night, Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson was there to collect additional Suzuki souvenirs.Suzuki, a baseball history buff, has visited Cooperstown six times. ' ' '