Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols is relishing his final chance to face his good friend David Ortiz on the baseball field. Pujols, 36, grew up near the Seattle Mariners’ baseball academy in the Dominican Republic, and used to go watch the players there practice as a kid. Among those players was Ortiz (then known as David Arias), a teenager signed as an amateur free agent by the M’s. “I used to leave school early to watch them practice,” Pujols told the Orange County Register in a recent story. “He gave me a lot of advice, especially the times that I struggled in my career when I went to the American League.
Tag: final
Under-19 Championship final tournament schedule
The UEFA European Under-19 Championship consists of three distinct stages: the qualifying round, the elite round and the final tournament.Qualifying roundThe qualifying round, played in autumn, is made up of 13 groups of four teams playing in one-venue mini-tournaments. The top two from each progress alongside the third-placed team with the best record against the top pair in their group.Elite roundIn the elite round, played in the spring, those 27 qualifiers join the top seed, given a bye, in seven mini-tournament groups of four. The group winners then join the hosts in the finals.Final tournamentThe seven qualifiers plus the...
Sacrifices ‘all worth it’ for final referee Clattenburg
It has been some season for Mark Clattenburg. Having officiated at the FA Cup final and then the UEFA Champions League showpiece in May, the 41-year old is about to add the UEFA EURO 2016 showdown between Portugal and France at Saint-Denis to his impressive CV.In a tournament in which the standard of all the refereeing teams has been impressively high, Clattenburg has joined his peers in focusing on working together as a team, developing fitness levels and preparing meticulously, including detailed analysis of how sides play.How did it feel to hear you will referee the UEFA EURO 2016 final?Mark Clattenburg: Sunday is one of the bigge...
How Portugal and France made it to the final
PortugalGroup F: Portugal 1-1 IcelandJoe Walker (@UEFAcomJoeW): I felt an air of deception and frustration about Portugal after this match. They offered so much yet lacked the killer touch.Group F: Portugal 0-0 AustriaJoe Walker: Frustration again. A whole host of missed chances, a penalty off the upright and a disallowed effort. Not to worry, they will beat Hungary ... Group F: Hungary 3-3 PortugalJoe Walker: Where to start? Yet more frustration, but ove...
Sharks Down Penguins After Wild First Period In Stanley Cup Final Game 5
If you missed the first period of the Stanley Cup Final Game 5 on Thursday night, boy, did you miss a lot. The San Jose Sharks held on to win a thriller, 4-2, after a wild first period that saw the game’s first five goals. San Jose got right to business in Pittsburgh when Brent Burns scored just 1:04 into the period. That wasn’t all the Sharks had up their sleeves, though. Just 1:49 later, they struck again, this time with Logan Couture doing the damage. But if you thought the Penguins — who lead the series three games to one — would go down without a fight, you’re sadly mistaken.
Andrea Bocelli to perform before final
If Real Madrid against Atlético Madrid in a UEFA Champions League final were not enough, the pre-match entertainment at the Stadio San Siro on Saturday promises to be an equally spectacular affair.It can now be revealed that world-famous Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli will perform the UEFA Champions League anthem as the two teams line up before kick-off. As he does so, final ambassadors Javier Zanetti and Franco Baresi – icons of Internazionale Milano and AC Milan respectively – will present the trophy to the crowd. A spine-tingling prospect.Andrea Bocelli said: "I feel very honoured to have the opportunity to actively participate in this great evening, the UEFA Champions...
Spotlight on women’s final ambassador Panico
Patrizia Panico's passion for the women's game remains undimmed. Now 41, the Italy and Fiorentina striker has over 100 international goals and nearly 200 caps to her name, to go along with ten Serie A title. Now she says it is time to get more of the country hooked, and Thursday's UEFA Women's Champions League final in Reggio Emilia represents a great opportunity to do so."I think that having the final in Italy is a great chance to move women's football forward because we have the opportunity to make everyone aware of women's football, from all angles and covering all Italians, not just those who are passionate about women's football. I see it as an opportunity fo...