brought back up here to do, Tucker said. I | Forum
Mitglied jcy123
Jan 21 '20
WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- Sonny Bill Williams passes for a superstar in this part of the world where rugby holds a rare pre-eminence over all other sports. Custom Braves T-shirts .When he competes in rugby sevens at the Olympics in Rio de Janiero next month its likely his light, which shines brightly in New Zealand, will be eclipsed by stars in sports with a bigger international reach.But few athletes competing in these Olympics could claim to approach Williams versatility and by the end, if rugby sevens has captured a wider audience, Williams likely will be among its most recognized names.When New Zealand Rugby appealed to its high-profile players to compete in sevens at Rio, Williams was one of only two All Blacks to answer the call: the other, Liam Messam, didnt make the final cut.Williams has already to his credit two Rugby World Cup winners medals, has competed at a Rugby League World Cup and also has collected titles in Super Rugby and Australias National Rugby League. He has been, also, the New Zealand professional heavyweight boxing champion.To demonstrate prowess in rugbys three formats -- rugby union, rugby league and rugby sevens -- and to excel also at boxing, even in the face of moderate opposition, proves that Williams is an athlete of rare scope and talent.The magnitude of his profile and popularity should have brought him a windfall in endorsements, yet he rarely promotes anything other than charitable causes. And he has made decisions throughout his career which have come at a cost.As a much younger man he quit a contract in Australian rugby league to play rugby union in France for the Toulon club, which is famous for its lavish salaries. That hardened the view among detractors that he flips from one club or sport to another, pursuing only his own interests.But Williams, who grew up with his parents and four siblings in subsidized housing in the Auckland suburb of Mount Albert, says his career choices have never been based on financial considerations.My manager in my early 20s put me into a bad investment and I was in debt, Williams recently told the New Zealand Herald newspaper. People thought I was living the dream in Toulon but I had to pay $750,000 to get out of my (rugby league) contract.Williams recently signed a three-year deal with New Zealand Rugby in the face of more lucrative offers, mainly to pursue his Olympic ambitions.He was quickly accepted into the team by veteran coach Gordon Tietjens, who recognized him as an athlete uniquely adapted to the modern sevens game. In its infancy, sevens was a game populated by sprinters and, even more recently, by players who mixed speed with size.Williams may lack outright pace but his strength, fitness and his ability to pass in tackles makes him ideally adapted to New Zealands current style.From the earliest stages of his career Williams has been pursued by many club, and as a younger player he allowed fame to turn his head. But he says family and his Muslim faith have given him peace and stability.Never in my wildest dreams would that young fella that went to Australia (to play rugby league) be here right now, he told the Herald. I used to be a bit of a scallywag. I did a lot of bad things and went off course but Allah was with me.Williams has shrugged off that past but remains a polarizing figure. He is as much a sporting celebrity as New Zealand has at the moment and he bears that responsibility, the calls for autographs and selfies, with good humor and patience. He is known for random acts of kindness which, if he had his way, would go unpublicized.But some still doubt his commitment to rugby and even question his ability.While he has often insisted as a clause of his contract the right to continue his boxing career, his feats in the ring havent won widespread credibility.Some think he has trifled with the All Blacks jersey, wearing it for the first time in 2010, giving it up after the 2011 World Cup, then returning just in time to play in the 2015 World Cup. He also once rejected selection in the New Zealand rugby league team only to have a change of heart and be reinstated at the expense of another player.Some see those decisions as signs of capriciousness and self-interest. In fact, they seem consequences of his talent and desire to please: when he returned from rugby union to rugby league in 2012 he did so to honor a handshake agreement made many years before.Now Williams has the chance to display his talent on a much wider stage. It is an opportunity made sweeter by the fact his sister, Niall, has been chosen for the New Zealand womens teams, meaning two of the four Williams siblings will be in Rio together. John Smoltz Jersey . NBA officials ruled the court unplayable in the Bucks final exhibition game on Oct. 25 because players were slipping, and the game was cancelled midway through the first period. Dansby Swanson Jersey . Dallas hasnt ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday nights game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to Romos back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting role after two years of limited play as the backup. Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006. http:///...rsey-large-547z.html . Once again, DeLaet finished tied for second at a PGA Tour stop on the weekend, this time at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The pride of Weyburn, Sask. HOUSTON -- Angels right-hander Matt Shoemaker produced another exceptional start on Friday night and despite a 2-1 loss, he set the tone needed to keep the Angels rolling out of the All-Star Game break.Shoemaker delivered his fifth consecutive quality start against the Astros (52-44) yet the Angels fell to 1-5 in those contests. But by allowing just two runs on five hits over 6 2/3 innings, Shoemaker set the stage for the Angels (43-53) to keep pitching effectively in support of an offense that had been cruising before arriving at Minute Maid Park.Shoes thrown the ball well; thats really the most important thing right now, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of Shoemaker, who tossed his first career shutout in his previous appearance.He just has to go out there and keep grinding it out there, and hopefully hell get the run support that is going to turn them into a win.The Angels scored 40 runs during their six-game winning streak before being shut down by right-hander Lance McCullers in the series opener. Right-hander Jered Weaver (8-7, 5.02 ERA) will on Saturday make his 12th career appearance against the Astros, against whom he is 5-5 with a 3.77 ERA. In two starts against Houston this season, he has allowed 10 earned runs in 11 1/3 innings, going 0-2 with a 7.94 ERA.Weaver has won each of his last two starts, allowing just two earned runs over 13 innings during those appearances. He defeated the White Sox in his previous start, allowing one run on six hits and one walk with one sstrikeout over seven innings. Dallas Keuchel Jersey. Right-hander Collin McHugh (6-6, 4.25 ERA) will make his 20th start of the season for the Astros and his third against the Angels. McHugh has yet to record a decision against the Angels in 2016 despite pitching effectively over two starts, allowing four runs on 11 hits and four walks with nine strikeouts in 13 innings.McHugh is 4-2 with a 2.84 ERA in nine career starts against the Angels. He fanned 10 batters over six scoreless innings in his previous outing, an 8-1 win over the Mariners in Seattle. It marked his second double-digit strikeout performance on the season. McHugh has allowed three earned runs or less in six consecutive starts and nine of his last 11, posting a 2.41 ERA over the six-start stretch with Houston going 5-1.Perhaps indicative of how the breaks have fallen for the Astros in their season series with the Angels, designated hitter Preston Tucker delivered a triple in the fifth inning in his first game back with Houston since being optioned to Triple A Fresno on May 15. Tucker scored the first run of the game against Shoemaker, giving the Astros a lead they didnt relinquish en route to a ninth consecutive win over the Angels.Thats what I felt like I got brought back up here to do, Tucker said. I know (Shoemaker) tonight was tough so I was doing everything I could to get on base or help us out. ' ' '
