Lisa Olson FanHouse http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com Lisa Olson FanHouse http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif Lisa Olson FanHouse http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Spielmans' Special Story of Love and Lifehttp://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/11/20/spielmans-special-story-of-love-and-life/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/11/20/spielmans-special-story-of-love-and-life/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/11/20/spielmans-special-story-of-love-and-life/#commentsLisa Olsonby Lisa Olson

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When Chris Spielman suffered a brutal neck injury, he said overcoming it was a breeze compared to most everything his wife Stefanie had faced. When her hair started falling out, when clumps of it began landing on the floor and in their toddler's hands, Chris decided to shave his own head, a soldier in solidarity. When it became apparent that more chemotherapy and a mastectomy -- breast cancer's evil twins -- were high on Stefanie's schedule, Chris bid a temporary farewell to the NFL, skipping an entire year so he could be with the woman he proposed to on the 18th hole of a Putt-Putt course.

None of the above should be considered exceptional behavior to husbands or partners forced to watch their loved one undergo treatment for cancer. But everything Chris did back in those gloomy days following his wife's diagnosis was regarded as unusual and, in some parts, emasculating.

Stefanie Spielman, 42, died Thursday after a lengthy battle with breast cancer. Chris Spielman, the NFL and Ohio State star, was by her side, along with their four children, and while she deserves a thousand hosannas and a billion thanks for her work in raising millions over the years to combat the disease, it should be noted that he was quite the trailblazer.

Spielmans' Special Story of Love and Life originally appeared on Lisa Olson FanHouse on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>chris spielmanstefanie spielmanLisa OlsonFri, 20 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST Vets Find Peace, Camaraderie on Roadhttp://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/11/11/vets-find-peace-camaraderie-on-road/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/11/11/vets-find-peace-camaraderie-on-road/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/11/11/vets-find-peace-camaraderie-on-road/#commentsLisa Olsonby Lisa Olson
Doctors told him he was likely never going to walk again. And they were going to take his arm, sever it just below the elbow. "No, you're wrong," U.S. Army staff sergeant Nieves Rodriguez would say, "I'm going to walk again. You're not going to take my arm."

They were fuzzy conversations between the white-coated medical community and a stubborn machine gunner who had been pinned under a rolled over vehicle during an army mission in northern Iraq. "Last thing I remember, we were hit by an Iraqi car that jumped out on us," Rodriguez says now. "I was unconscious for three days." This was April 2005, and he was on his second deployment, after fracturing two bones in his back during a previous tour.

Vets Find Peace, Camaraderie on Road originally appeared on Lisa Olson FanHouse on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Lisa OlsonWed, 11 Nov 2009 23:30:00 EST Phillies Fade Into New York Nighthttp://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/11/05/phillies-fade-into-new-york-night/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/11/05/phillies-fade-into-new-york-night/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/11/05/phillies-fade-into-new-york-night/#commentsLisa Olsonby Lisa Olson

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NEW YORK - Finally, there was life in Ryan Howard's bat, energy in his words. "Come on man, let's go," he shouted upon crossing the plate, as if adding a hardy exclamation point to his two-run homer in the sixth inning would spark whatever the defending champions had been missing since they took a brief World Series lead way back in October.

The Philadelphia Phillies brought the bravado, for sure. On the eve of the Fall Classic, Jimmy Rollins made one of his many extemporaneous observations, saying on the Jay Leno Show, of all places, "If we're nice, we'll let it go six. But I'm thinking five. Close it out at home." So here's the first lesson, to any budding big leaguers: try not to mouth off when playing the wealthiest, hungriest, most talent-stacked team on the planet.
More Phillies Coverage:
Few Mysteries in Defeat | Howard's Dubious Record

Phillies Fade Into New York Night originally appeared on Lisa Olson FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:33:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Charlie Manuelchase utleyHideki Matsuijimmy rollinsmariano riverapedro martinezRyan HowardShane VictorinoLisa OlsonThu, 05 Nov 2009 03:33:00 EST Heartbreak Doesn't Lessen Love of 'Jazz'http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/31/heartbreak-doesnt-diminish-love-of-jazz/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/31/heartbreak-doesnt-diminish-love-of-jazz/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/31/heartbreak-doesnt-diminish-love-of-jazz/#commentsLisa Olsonby Lisa Olson

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EAST HARTFORD, Conn. -- No, way. The universe isn't meant to be this cruel. Time was supposed to stop with 38 seconds remaining on the clock, just this once. Just for Jazz. It wouldn't have healed the broken hearts stretching from Connecticut to South Florida, but it sure would have inspired an outbreak of happy hugs and welcome smiles.

But the ripples generated by the murder of UConn cornerback Jasper "Jazz" Howard travel far beyond a mere game of football, so perhaps this is how it was destined to end, with the scoreboard flashing Rutgers 28, Connecticut 24, with Tim Brown, Howard's best friend from childhood, choking back tears after scoring an improbable, last-second touchdown for the winning side. As much as it hurt the crowd on hand for the Huskies' first home game since Howard was killed -- and "hurt" is a gentle description, because the emotions that overtook Rentschler Field were funereal and raw following Brown's stunning 81-yard TD with 22 seconds left -- there is beauty in how it ended.

And love.

And a friendship that will live forever.

Heartbreak Doesn't Lessen Love of 'Jazz' originally appeared on Lisa Olson FanHouse on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Andre Dixonjasper howardKashif MooreLisa OlsonSat, 31 Oct 2009 22:00:00 EST Yankees Cash In With Burnett's Gemhttp://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/30/yankees-cash-in-with-burnetts-gem/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/30/yankees-cash-in-with-burnetts-gem/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/30/yankees-cash-in-with-burnetts-gem/#commentsLisa Olsonby Lisa Olson

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A.J. BurnettNEW YORK -- The good A.J. Burnett showed up at Yankee Stadium Thursday night. Scratch that, this wasn't just the good Burnett on the mound, his pitches dancing across every tiny speck of the plate's corner, his psyche remaining as calm as a summer day. This was a great Burnett, an imposing Burnett, a Burnett who managed to keep his evil side stowed away in the broom closet for one entire game.

And what a game it was, with Burnett and Philadelphia starter Pedro Martinez daring each other to blink first, to crack slightly, to make consecutive bad pitches. When it was over, when Burnett and the Yankees had held tight to a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 2 of the World Series, New York manager Joe Girardi still looked as if you could bounce subway tokens off the bulging veins in his neck.

"Extremely impressive. [Burnett] was great tonight," said Girardi, breathing slightly easier now that the Yankees can head down the turnpike with the World Series tied 1-1, and his team's bats itching to break out in Philadelphia's warm weather.
FanHouse World Series Coverage: Mariotti | Moore | Price | Fletcher | Piliere
Game 2: Yankees 3, Phillies 1 | Box Score | Series Home

Yankees Cash In With Burnett's Gem originally appeared on Lisa Olson FanHouse on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>A.J. BurnettLisa OlsonFri, 30 Oct 2009 02:30:00 EST No Better Show Than Pedro in Bronxhttp://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/no-better-show-than-pedro-in-bronx/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/no-better-show-than-pedro-in-bronx/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/no-better-show-than-pedro-in-bronx/#commentsLisa Olsonby Lisa Olson

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Pedro MartinezNEW YORK -- Set the clock, nudge awake the kids. There might not be a more fascinating evening in sports this year than Thursday night, when Pedro Martinez takes the mound at Yankee Stadium and flips the World Series on its rump.

Most anything Pedro does is must-watch theater. He turned a routine press conference before Wednesday's Game 1 into an astonishing revival session that included Martinez proclaiming he "at times [is] the most influential player that ever stepped in Yankee Stadium" and featured his first in-depth, blow-by-blow look back at his 2003 tussle with Don Zimmer. It was almost as if Martinez was craftily writing his own prelude to whatever might happen in Game 2, when he attempts to lift Philadelphia to a 2-0 Series lead.

Will Pedro's first World Series pitch since 2004 (a year that still makes Yankee fans' skin crawl) serve as a reminder to Derek Jeter that some things never change? More delicious, how will Pedro treat Alex Rodriguez? With deference owed a man who has finally (we think) proven October no longer makes him flinch? Or will Pedro buzz them both, buzz them all, and quickly silence the crowd's mocking chants?

No Better Show Than Pedro in Bronx originally appeared on Lisa Olson FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:47:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Pedro MartinezPedroMartinezLisa OlsonWed, 28 Oct 2009 23:47:00 EST ALCS Figures to Haunt Sloppy Haloshttp://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/26/alcs-figures-to-haunt-sloppy-halos/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/26/alcs-figures-to-haunt-sloppy-halos/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/26/alcs-figures-to-haunt-sloppy-halos/#commentsLisa Olsonby Lisa Olson

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Angels look dejected in Game 6 of the 2009 ALCSNEW YORK -- The Angels will be haunted all season by their failure to do the little things correctly, such as not treating the baseball as if it were a ripe pumpkin. The Yankees, especially the unrivaled core four, played and then celebrated as if they had been there before, even if it has taken six long years for them to figure the way back.

Therein lies the difference between going home and booking a trip to the World Series, in two quick sentences. On a night when Andy Pettitte's cutter was nearly as biting as it was in 1996 when he pitched one of the greatest playoff games in Yankee history, the Angels tussled through more misplays in a series plagued with them. On a night when Mariano Rivera reached deep for a six-out save, the Angels strangled all opportunities to extend the American League Championship Series into a Game 7. They clumsily ran the bases, made some atrocious errors, stranded more runners. And the manager probably has a move or two he'd like to have back in the Yankees' 5-2 win that crushed the Angels' postseason and jump-started a New York-Philadelphia World Series.
Mariotti: Yanks Earn Pinstripes | Price: Just Like Old Times
Game 6: Yankees 5, Angels 2 | Box Score | Series Home

ALCS Figures to Haunt Sloppy Halos originally appeared on Lisa Olson FanHouse on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:04:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>mike sciosciaLisa OlsonMon, 26 Oct 2009 04:04:00 EST Cloud Over Pitino, Program Inescapablehttp://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/21/cloud-over-rick-pitino-inescapable/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/21/cloud-over-rick-pitino-inescapable/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/21/cloud-over-rick-pitino-inescapable/#commentsLisa Olsonby Lisa Olson

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Rick PitinoNEW YORK -- Rick Pitino would like you to know one thing: His tawdry sex affair with a woman who faces federal charges of extortion and lying to the FBI is not going to have the slightest impact on his Louisville basketball team.

There are still plenty of legal hurdles to overcome and motions to be made before the case goes to trial and Pitino is summoned to the witness stand, where presumably his testimony against Karen Sypher will reveal even more salacious details about their romp in a Louisville restaurant, and the subsequent fallout that has engulfed the university's athletic department.

Beyond Pitino, the scandal has scarred Tim Sypher, who is now the operations director of the Cardinals' new gym and who was the team's equipment manager. Tim married Karen (they are now divorced) after she either had consensual sex with Pitino or was assaulted by him against her will -- it's a complicated connection that perhaps the trial will help unravel. The scandal has also greatly impacted Pitino's wife of 33 years, his five children, his extended New York family, Louisville's Catholic community where Pitino worships and pretty much anyone who has a rooting interest in the Cardinals.
More Coverage: Pitino Preaches 'Blinders' at Media Day

Cloud Over Pitino, Program Inescapable originally appeared on Lisa Olson FanHouse on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>rick pitinoLisa OlsonWed, 21 Oct 2009 21:40:00 EST Agony, Ecstasy as Yanks Prevail in Epichttp://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/18/agony-ecstasy-as-yanks-prevail-in-epic/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/18/agony-ecstasy-as-yanks-prevail-in-epic/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/18/agony-ecstasy-as-yanks-prevail-in-epic/#commentsLisa Olsonby Lisa Olson

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Yankees celebrate win in Game 2 of ALCS
NEW YORK -- Of course it would end this way, in such classic, expected fashion. What, you didn't have Jerry Hairston Jr. scoring the winning run for the Yankees in the bottom of the 13th inning, after the Angel infield completely lost its heads? Join the club with millions of other baseball fans who watched Saturday's American League Championship Series melt into Sunday morning, and still aren't sure how and why this astonishing Game 2 concluded as it did.
Hairston Jr. Unlikeliest Hero | Good Pitching or Poor Hitting?
Game 2: Yankees 4, Angels 3 (13) | Box Score | Series Home

Agony, Ecstasy as Yanks Prevail in Epic originally appeared on Lisa Olson FanHouse on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 04:56:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>alex rodriguezAlexRodriguezBrian FuentesBrianFuentesChone FigginsChoneFigginsErick AybarErickAybarJerry HairstonJerryHairstonMaicer IzturisMaicerIzturisMike SciosciaMikeSciosciaLisa OlsonSun, 18 Oct 2009 04:56:00 EST CC! CC! Ace Delivers Big on Bronx Stagehttp://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/17/cc-cc-ace-delivers-big-on-bronx-stage/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/17/cc-cc-ace-delivers-big-on-bronx-stage/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/17/cc-cc-ace-delivers-big-on-bronx-stage/#commentsLisa Olsonby Lisa OlsonCC Sabathia and Derek JeterNEW YORK -- They could have tossed aside their mittens and shunned their wool coats, that's how blistering hot the cozy confines of the new Yankee Stadium felt now that CC Sabathia had everything under control. It's been quite awhile since this corner of the Bronx has rocked with so much confidence and rolled with such delightful expectations, but that's what happens when the ace doesn't sweat.

Up on their feet, banging whatever or whoever stood near, tens of thousands of Yankee fans rose as one and emptied their lungs in rapturous unison: CC! CC! CC! It wasn't just that Sabathia was blowing through Angel hitters with shocking ease; no, it was so much more. It was the eighth inning and he was still throwing ridiculous heat, his fastball kissing the inside corner of the plate, his slider hypnotizing the batters from Southern California until it looked as if they were swinging at the big lefty's stuff with greased-up surfboards.
Price: Goats Galore in ALCS Opener, Entire Postseason
Game 1: Yankees 4, Angels 1 | Box Score | Series Home

CC! CC! Ace Delivers Big on Bronx Stage originally appeared on Lisa Olson FanHouse on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:53:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>alex rodriguezAlexRodriguezbobby abreuBobbyAbreuCC SabathiaCcSabathiaChone FigginsChoneFigginsDerek JeterDerekJetererick aybErickAybjoe girardiJoeGirardiMariano RiveraMarianoRiveramike napoliMikeNapoliTorii HunterToriiHunterLisa OlsonSat, 17 Oct 2009 02:53:00 EST Each Moment Is a Tribute for Angelshttp://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/15/each-moment-is-a-tribute-for-angels/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/15/each-moment-is-a-tribute-for-angels/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/15/each-moment-is-a-tribute-for-angels/#commentsLisa Olsonby Lisa Olson

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NEW YORK - This is how it ends, in the Angels' perfect little world. They steal their share of bases, acts of defiance that come so naturally, and the starting rotation hands the ball over to the bullpen, which doesn't fall apart. Mike Scioscia, the crafty former catcher who is fluent with quips and stingy when it comes to making managerial mistakes, probably allows a tear or three to leak as his players drench him with celebratory bubbly.

This is for Nick, the Angels will say, in between bursts of hugs and laughter, and they'll tell his story to anyone who asks. The Angels believe his spirit is with them, lingering, guiding them through this remarkable season. "Oh yes, he's cheering for us," Bobby Abreu, the Angel outfielder, was saying Thursday afternoon, as he took shelter in a soggy Yankee Stadium. "We keep him with us here and here."

Each Moment Is a Tribute for Angels originally appeared on Lisa Olson FanHouse on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>nick adenhartLisa OlsonThu, 15 Oct 2009 22:35:00 EST A-Rod Shuns Spotlight, Finds Blisshttp://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/09/a-rod-shuns-spotlight-finds-bliss/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/09/a-rod-shuns-spotlight-finds-bliss/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/09/a-rod-shuns-spotlight-finds-bliss/#commentsLisa Olsonby Lisa Olson

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NEW YORK -- There had to be close to 50 bodies pressed together in the corner of the Yankees' clubhouse, cameras bumping heads and notebooks battling microphones. The team has a perfectly spacious interview room around the corner, a nice podium where an athlete can stretch and pontificate without a bunch of sweaty reporters pushing close enough to see his nose hairs.

But Alex Rodriguez was perfectly happy to make his way through the chaotic crush and face the media without a buffer. Someone fired a question and, from the back of the pack, all we could make out was, "Jetes ...CC ... they were the story." What about his two RBI singles that twice extended the Yankee lead? "Felt good ... team effort ... great pitching from CC." Was the postseason monkey off his back? "Not about me ... good to contribute ... hey, no need to shove each other."

A-Rod Shuns Spotlight, Finds Bliss originally appeared on Lisa Olson FanHouse on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>alex rodriguezAlexRodriguezCC SabathiaCcSabathiaDerek JeterDerekJeterMark TeixeiraMarkTeixeiraReggie JacksonReggieJacksonLisa OlsonFri, 09 Oct 2009 14:20:00 EST Yankees' Methodical Win No Reason to Discount Twinshttp://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/08/yankees-methodical-win-no-reason-to-discount-twins/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/08/yankees-methodical-win-no-reason-to-discount-twins/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/08/yankees-methodical-win-no-reason-to-discount-twins/#commentsLisa Olsonby Lisa Olson

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Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano celebrate Yankees winNEW YORK -- It was bound to happen, probably sooner before later. The Minnesota Twins couldn't keep flying high on adrenaline and spunk, could they? This was a mismatch of gargantuan proportions, the mighty uber-rich Yankees against a sweet little team from the Midwest that barely squeaked into the playoffs at the very last second. The Twins couldn't possibly continue to rock and shock the baseball world, could they?

Not on this night, no. Not with CC Sabathia, the Yankees ace, rested and frothing at the chance to prove he can indeed carry the sport's wealthiest, most stacked club all the way to the finish line. Not with Derek Jeter, Captain America, eager to prove last season's postseason absence was an embarrassing, once-in-his-lifetime fluke.
Game 1: Yankees 7, Twins 2 | Box Score | Series Page

Yankees' Methodical Win No Reason to Discount Twins originally appeared on Lisa Olson FanHouse on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:27:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>alex rodriguezAlexRodriguezBrian DuensingBrianDuensingCC SabathiaCcSabathiaDerek JeterDerekJeterFrancisco LirianoFranciscoLirianoHideki MatsuiHidekiMatsuiJoe MauerJoeMauerOrlando CabreraOrlandoCabreraRon GardenhireRonGardenhireLisa OlsonThu, 08 Oct 2009 01:27:00 EST Yanks Gamble on Chemistry Experimenthttp://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/06/yanks-gamble-on-chemistry-experiment/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/06/yanks-gamble-on-chemistry-experiment/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/10/06/yanks-gamble-on-chemistry-experiment/#commentsLisa Olsonby Lisa Olson

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A.J. Burnett and Jorge Posada
NEW YORK -- Huge breaking news from Yankee camp: Jorge Posada is furious he won't be catching A.J. Burnett in Game 2 of the playoffs. No, wait, scratch that, now Posada is acting like an unruffled veteran, calmly saying "it's all about the team," and so it's over to Joe Girardi, to ascertain why the manager picked such a fine time to cause so much hyperventilating around what had been the most stable team in baseball.

By choosing to start Jose Molina and not Posada behind the plate Friday when Burnett makes his first ALDS start for the Yankees against the remarkable Minnesota Twins, Girardi proved he's neither sentimental nor averse to taking an unpopular risk. Of course, the Posada-Burnett battery has sometimes looked as uncomfortable as Jon and Kate sitting on the couch together, and to pair the fiery catcher again with the streaky pitcher at this juncture would be a mighty large gamble. Still, no matter how sensible, stat-driven Girardi's decision might be, it landed with a considerable thump.

Yanks Gamble on Chemistry Experiment originally appeared on Lisa Olson FanHouse on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>A.J. BurnettJoe GirardiJorge PosadaJose MolinaLisa OlsonTue, 06 Oct 2009 22:50:00 EST Titans Fumble One Away to Upstart Jetshttp://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/09/27/titans-fumble-one-away-to-upstart-jets/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/09/27/titans-fumble-one-away-to-upstart-jets/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/09/27/titans-fumble-one-away-to-upstart-jets/#commentsLisa Olsonby Lisa Olson

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Chris JohnsonEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The loneliest man in the stadium sat alone on a bench, his thoughts drowning out anything the crazed blob of 70,000 might be yelling at him. How could he have let not one, but two kicks trickle through his hands on a day like this, when the Tennessee Titans so desperately needed a win? How could he wrap such perfect gifts for the New York Jets, his fumbles turning into touchdowns for the wrong team? His teammates tried to comfort him with arm squeezes or soothing words, but Ryan Mouton just squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head.

Titans Fumble One Away to Upstart Jets originally appeared on Lisa Olson FanHouse on Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>mark sanchezRyan MoutonLisa OlsonSun, 27 Sep 2009 22:10:00 EST The Great One That Got Awayhttp://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/09/25/the-great-one-that-got-away/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/09/25/the-great-one-that-got-away/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/09/25/the-great-one-that-got-away/#commentsLisa Olsonby Lisa Olson

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Wayne GretzkyFor the moment, Wayne Gretzky has chosen to walk away gracefully, with dignity. Of course he is concerned about his personal legacy -- The Great One's ego didn't melt from the Phoenix sun, no matter how ordinary he proved to be working in an environment that never felt as natural as his office behind the net. But the broader picture here -- beyond Gretzky's resignation as head coach and director of hockey operations of the Coyotes Thursday, beyond his bruised feelings and grumblings to friends about being treated unfairly -- still circles around one cold fact:

Wayne Gretzky is hockey.

And the NHL would be wise to do whatever it takes to assure its greatest ambassador remains a part of the game, somewhere, somehow.
More: Canada Next for Gretzky? | Coyotes Hire Tippett

The Great One That Got Away originally appeared on Lisa Olson FanHouse on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>wayne gretzkyLisa OlsonFri, 25 Sep 2009 00:30:00 EST Same Old, Same Old? Not These Jetshttp://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/09/20/same-old-same-old-not-these-jets/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/09/20/same-old-same-old-not-these-jets/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/09/20/same-old-same-old-not-these-jets/#commentsLisa Olsonby Lisa Olson

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Mark SanchezEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Pump up the volume, Jets coach Rex Ryan had implored fans in a taped phone message, and so they did, until the Meadowlands was shaking like a thousand space ships about to launch.

Don't just beat them, Jets safety Kerry Rhodes had beseeched, try to embarrass them, and while we kept waiting for the visiting Patriots to make Rhodes regurgitate his bulletin board words, the Meadowlands kept getting louder and louder and louder and louder. "I actually felt the ground vibrating," Jets defensive end Shaun Ellis would say later, after experiencing a day like no other in Gang Green's tortured relationship with the Patriots.

The tumblers shifted just slightly Sunday in a division long dominated by New England. It's only Week 2 of the season, so caveats must be noted: surely Tom Brady won't always look so uncomfortable while getting hit from every angle, and Bill Belichick will crack a smile before he allows himself to again be outcoached, and the laws of football's universe suggest Ryan's bravado will eventually backfire, and New York's defense can't always gloss over the mistakes made by Mark Sanchez, their rookie quarterback.

Same Old, Same Old? Not These Jets originally appeared on Lisa Olson FanHouse on Sun, 20 Sep 2009 22:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>bill belichickmark sanchezrex ryantom bradyLisa OlsonSun, 20 Sep 2009 22:00:00 EST Eight Years Later, 9/11 Still Resonateshttp://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/09/11/eight-years-later-9-11-still-resonates/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/09/11/eight-years-later-9-11-still-resonates/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/09/11/eight-years-later-9-11-still-resonates/#commentsLisa Olsonby Lisa OlsonNEW YORK -- When this city needed a true hero, it got thousands. They kept their composure when everything seemed lost, they worked together as a team and they got by on heart and guts. They never were rewarded million dollar contracts, never got serenaded in a ticker tape parade through Manhattan's downtown streets.

All they did was keep us safe and somewhat sane in the days and weeks following America's apocalyptic tragedy.

If you attended a sporting event here in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, you couldn't help but notice them. They'd be sitting in their soot-covered rigs outside various stadiums and ballparks, nodding weary assurances to fans wanting to know if they were OK. They'd be all buffed-up in their bulletproof vests, trying hard to smile instead of allowing their faces to reflect the horrors they witnessed only a short time ago.

They were grieving firefighters and police officers and rescue workers, and everywhere you turned, they were comforting the public, instead of the other way around.

Eight Years Later, 9/11 Still Resonates originally appeared on Lisa Olson FanHouse on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Lisa OlsonFri, 11 Sep 2009 08:45:00 EST Believe it: Melanie Oudin Here to Stayhttp://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/09/10/believe-it-melanie-oudin-here-to-stay/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/09/10/believe-it-melanie-oudin-here-to-stay/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/09/10/believe-it-melanie-oudin-here-to-stay/#commentsLisa Olsonby Lisa Olson

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NEW YORK -- Does the word "Believe" scripted on Melanie Oudin's shoes carry any less weight now that she has been knocked out of the U.S. Open? Should she scratch madly at those seven letters, pretend they were conceived out of nothing more than a childish whim?

Of course not, because to do so would suggest Oudin never really possessed the sort of inner faith many of us could only hope to achieve in a lifetime of attempts and failures and do-overs. She is 17 years old, and when Oudin wakes today she'll believe more than ever.

It is the conceit of teenagers to think they can do anything at anytime. They are invincible, indestructible. In the next breath, they are a bundle of angst and insecurities. And teenage girls? Their moods fluctuate as often as the wind. Anyone who has ever been a teenage girl or raised one or been around one when the malls open understands this irrefutable truth: these creatures are usually a broken fingernail away from coming unhinged.
Report: Oudin's Father Filed for Divorce Last Year
Couch: Oudin Rises, Falls in NY Minute | Moore: Oudins Good for Game

Believe it: Melanie Oudin Here to Stay originally appeared on Lisa Olson FanHouse on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 03:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>caroline wozniackimelanie oudinLisa OlsonThu, 10 Sep 2009 03:05:00 EST No Reason to Root for Vick's Failure if He Stays on Straight and Narrowhttp://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/no-reason-to-root-for-vicks-failure-if-he-stays-on-straight/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/no-reason-to-root-for-vicks-failure-if-he-stays-on-straight/http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/no-reason-to-root-for-vicks-failure-if-he-stays-on-straight/#commentsLisa Olsonby Lisa Olson

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Michael VickEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Society benefits the more Michael Vick thrives. Not that his success should be viewed through football's prism -- he can complete 7 for 11 passes for 26 yards, and rush for another 35, and occasionally inspire flashbacks with his elusiveness, as he did Thursday night in the Philadelphia Eagles' 38-27 preseason loss to the New York Jets, and the only people he truly impacts are those who inhale and exhale football.

However his gridiron career finishes, it will be a small footprint to the legacy Vick leaves. No, Vick's true worth should be found in moments beyond the 60 minutes when he earns his employ. This is why we should stand up and root for Vick to thrive, to create a positive ripple, to leave his little section of the planet better than he found it.
More Coverage: Staubach on Coming Back
Goodell Holds Court | Vick Can Play in Week 3

No Reason to Root for Vick's Failure if He Stays on Straight and Narrow originally appeared on Lisa Olson FanHouse on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 01:13:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Michael VickLisa OlsonFri, 04 Sep 2009 01:13:00 EST