ekansekans's blog: "df"

SEATTLE -- Efforts to bring the NBA back to Seattle took a giant step forward in a revised arena deal announced Tuesday, with investor Chris Hansen agreeing to kick in more money for transportation improvements near a proposed new arena, personally guaranteeing the citys debt -- and offering to buy everyone a beer. The plan for the $490 million arena, which could also host an NHL team, represents the best shot at bringing the NBA back to Seattle. The SuperSonics ended their 41-year run here in 2008 and skipped town for Oklahoma City, where they became the Thunder. Though formal votes are still required, Tuesdays announcement effectively gave Hansen, a San Francisco hedge-fund manager, and his fellow investors, including Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Peter and Erik Nordstrom, of the department store clan, the green light to begin shopping for an NBA team. The deal calls for $200 million in public financing to be paid back by arena-related taxes and rent. Under new terms announced by the City Council, Hansen would double to $30 million the reserves required to be kept on hand in case the arenas finances dont perform as expected. Should the reserve run dry, Hansen would cover the balance himself. He agreed to be independently audited to assure that hes worth at least $300 million. And at the end of the 30-year use agreement for the new arena, the city could force Hansen to buy it back for $200 million or make him pay to have it torn down should the team move on. The three City Council members who announced the deal said the new terms mark a significant improvement for taxpayers over the original deal reached between Hansen and Mayor Mike McGinn in May. A council committee is expected to vote on the agreement Thursday, and the full council could vote as early as Monday. The King County Council already approved the earlier deal but would have to approve the changes as well. "This agreement could fundamentally change the model of how public-private partnerships involving sports franchises are structured," said Councilman Tim Burgess. Hansen, a Seattle native, early Facebook investor and big Sonics fan, said the talks were difficult, but that he was happy to be able to find common ground with the council. He thanked the fans who supported him through the process, and -- though not actually part of the deal -- he offered to buy a celebratory beer for anyone who shows up on Thursday evening at FX McRorys, a bar near the planned site of the arena. The initial plan for the deal drew objections from the Port of Seattle, which expressed fears that putting a third sports facility in the neighbourhood south of downtown -- next to the Seahawks and Mariners stadiums -- would choke crucial transportation corridors that support 30,000 jobs in the region and generate $3 billion in annual revenue. The new agreement calls for $40 million to be put into an account to improve the mobility of freight in the area, an amount state Rep. Judy Clibborn described as a down payment that could be used to recruit further investments from the port and other organizations. The port issued a statement Tuesday saying it would review the deal. The statement said the Port of Seattle Commission appreciates the councils efforts to revise the original proposal to respond to concerns. The deal also includes $7 million in new money for KeyArena, where the Sonics used to play. The city would have sole discretion over spending that money. Kris Brannon, a fan better known as "Sonics Guy," attended the news conference decked out entirely in Sonics yellow and green. "Im just overjoyed," he said. "Chris Hansen is just like us. Hes a fan, and he wants to bring basketball back to Seattle." Adrian Peterson Jersey . Josh Smith scored 10 of his team-high 23 points in the third quarter to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 95-86 victory over the Hornets on Tuesday night. Authentic Peterson Jersey . The 2011 Nelson runner-up is off to a good start. Palmer, who lives in Colleyville not far from the TPC Four Seasons, opened with a 6-under 64 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead over Marc Leishman and Alex Cejka. http://www.azulvirtual.org/new.html . The surprising Os have already beaten some big odds, getting past the two-time defending AL champion Texas Rangers and their Japanese ace, Yu Darvish, in the win-or-go-home wild-card playoff.Its been a year of ups and downs for the Toronto Blue Jays and particularly for the bright prospects that populate their farm system. While some - like Anthony Gose, Adeiny Hechavarria and Moises Sierra - have enjoyed a taste of major league life prior to September call-ups, it has been a year to forget for a few others. Top prospect Travis dArnaud had his season derailed by a knee injury in late June, surprise major league starter Drew Hutchison performed nicely in 11 starts before an elbow injury ended his season, with Tommy John surgery likely keeping him out for a large part of 2013. Marcus Stroman - who seemed on the fast track to the majors after the Jays selected him in the first round of the 2012 MLB Draft - is now serving a 50-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance. The dark cloud that followed the Jays for a lot of 2012 did not restrict itself to hovering over the Rogers Centre. However, there have also been a lot of success stories throughout the system this season. With the minor league regular seasons having come to a close, we can now take a complete look at how the Jays young talent performed before breaking away for playoff runs and further development over the winter. Heres a look at the best of the Jays system through the end of the 2012 minor league regular season. Justin Nicolino (LHP, 20) Selected by Toronto in the second round of the 2010 MLB Draft. 2012 stats: 10-4, 124.1 IP, 2.46 ERA, 119 K, 21 BB, 1.07 WHIP (Lansing, A) So much of the Jays future hopes rest with its elite trio of pitchers from the double-A Lansing Lugnuts. Nicolinos year was parabolic in terms of his on-field success. In the first half he was electric as the Jays slowly acclimatized him to A-ball. He didnt give up a run through the first month, but once the innings started piling up, the league caught up with him. He did have an excellent August, however, posting his highest monthly ground ball/fly ball ratio and a monthly low for opposing batting average. He was named to the Midwest League All-Star team. Jake Marisnick (OF, 21) Selected by Toronto in the third round of the 2009 MLB Draft. 2012 stats: 55 GP, .233 BA, 2 HR, 15 RBI, .622 OPS, 14/18 SB (New Hampshire, AA) A quick glance at Marisnicks totals for 2012 only tells a fraction of the story on one of the Jays very best young talents. Having finished 2011 in Lansing (A), the 21-year-old acquitted himself well enough through 65 games in Dunedin (A+) to earn a New Hampshire call-up. He finished on a torrid pace, hitting .375 in his final nine games of the season. Seven of those games were of the multi-hit variety with a .966 OPS over his last 10 games. MLB.com ranks Marisnick behind only dArnaud on the Jays top prospects list. Aaron Sanchez (RHP, 20) Selected by Toronto in the first round of the 2010 MLB Draft. 2012 stats: 8-5, 90.1 IP, 2.49 ERA, 97 K, 55 BB, 1.273 WHIP (Lansing, A) Sanchez is possibly the Jays prospect that got the most positive ink this season.dddddddddddd He did not register a loss until July and he kept opponents well below the Mendoza line throughout the first half. The summer was not especially kind to Sanchez, who went 2-5 with a 4.36 ERA in the second half. However, that didnt stop the power pitcher from being named Baseball Americas top Midwest League prospect in August. D.J. Davis (OF, 18) Selected by Toronto in the first round of the 2012 MLB Draft. 2012 stats: 60 GP, .250 BA, 5 HR, 18 RBI, 25 SB, .741 OPS (Combined Rookie Ball and A-) The speedy outfielder made a quick jump through the Jays system once under contract. Davis stole 18 bases and scored 30 runs in the Gulf Coast League before a torrid 12-game promotion in Bluefield (.340 average with six steals) earned him a trip to Vancouver. He struggled in five games in Low-A ball, but the fact that hes seen two promotions in two months should be encouraging to the Jays that their top 2012 pick is on the right track. Noah Syndergaard (RHP, 20) Selected by Toronto in the first round of the 2010 MLB Draft. 2012 stats: 7-3, 82.1 IP, 3.06 ERA, 100 K, 1.142 WHIP (Lansing, A) The towering Texan remains one of the Jays most impressive and imposing prospects. With a K-to-Walk ratio of almost 4:1 and producing twice as many ground ball outs as he does pop-ups, the 65" righty had a solid year with Lansing. Syndergaard was lights-out in August with a 0.84 ERA finishing the season with a one-hit, nine strikeout performance over five innings against South Bend. Best of the Rest: Travis dArnaud (C, 23) - Acquired from Philadelphia in exchange for Roy Halladay (12/16/09). 2012 stats: 67 GP, .333 BA, 16 HR, 52 RBI, .975 OPS (Las Vegas, AAA) Daniel Norris (LHP, 19) - Selected by Toronto in the second round of the 2011 MLB Draft. 2012 stats: 2-4, 42.2 IP, 8.44 ERA, 43 K, 18 BB, 1.781 WHIP (Rookie Ball, A- combined) Marcus Stroman (RHP, 21) - Selected by Toronto in the first round of the 2012 MLB Draft. 2012 stats: 3-0, 19.1 IP, 3.26 ERA, 23 K, 9 BB, 1.293 WHIP (Combined AA, A-) Kevin Pillar (OF, 23) - Selected by Toronto in the 32nd round of the 2011 MLB Draft. 2012 stats: 128 GP, .374 BA, 6 HR, 91 RBI, .813 OPS, 51/60 SB (Combined A, A+) - Pillar was named MVP of the Midwest League for his season with Lansing. Roberto Osuna (RHP, 17) - Signed as an International free agent from Mexico (08/03/11). 2012 stats: 1-0, 19.2 IP, 3.20 ERA, 25 K, 9 BB, 1.169 WHIP (Vancouver, A-) Mike McDade (1B, 23) - Selected by Toronto in the sixth round of the 2007 MLB Draft. 2012 stats: 118 GP, .285 BA, 17 HR, 67 RBI, .806 OPS (Combined AA, AAA) Adonys Cardona (RHP, 18) - Signed as an International free agent from Venezuela (07/07/10). 2012 stats: 8 GP, 15.2 IP, 6.32 ERA, 20 K, 12 BB, 1.437 WHIP (Gulf Coast League) Chase DeJong (LHP, 18) - Selected by Toronto in the second round of the 2012 MLB Draft. 2012 stats: 1-0, 12 IP, 1.50 ERA, 15 K, 1 BB, 0.667 WHIP (Gulf Coast, Rookie) ' ' '