lucylily's blog: "ght"

NEW YORK -- The players union has told the NFL to hold off collecting blood for HGH testing, and the league isnt happy about it. "We informed the NFL (Tuesday) that absent a collective agreement on several critical issues, blood collection is not ready to be implemented on Monday," the NFL Players Association said in a statement released Wednesday. "We have advised the players." The league was preparing to draw the blood samples beginning Monday, although full testing for HGH was not yet scheduled. "We are disappointed in the unions response," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said. "It is contrary to the terms of the CBA and the agreements reached last Friday with the chairman and ranking member of the House Government Reform Committee. "We are ready to begin educating players on the testing program and collecting samples. This approach was put forward by Congressmen Issa and Cummings," he added, referring to California Rep. Darrell Issa and Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings, "It is well-reasoned and balances the need to ensure immediate deterrence with the unions desire for further review and education. We know of no reason why these initial steps should not begin next week, and none has been identified by the union." The NFL and the players agreed to begin blood testing for HGH as part of their new collective bargaining agreement reached in late July -- but only if the union agreed to the methods. The union has delayed implementing the test, asking for more scientific data to prove it is reliable. One of the key items the NFLPA is seeking is a population study of the test -- the data from the athletes who were used to originally set thresholds as to what constitutes a positive test. The union wants to compare that data to a population study on football players; the union believes players could have naturally higher HGH levels above those of other athletes. "I am all for it, as long as its a test that can be regulated and proved to be very accurate," Packers quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers said. "So until we get some information and data that were very confident in, I dont know that theres going to be anything in the immediate future. I think itd be great to even the playing field for the rest of the league." Earlier this month, nearly two dozen scientists and lab directors from around the world signed a letter sent to the NFL and the union stating the current test for HGH is safe, scientifically reliable and appropriate for use in professional sports leagues. The letter, obtained by The Associated Press, was dated Oct. 3 and sent to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and union executive director DeMaurice Smith. ------ AP National Writer Eddie Pells in Denver and Sports Writer Chris Jenkins in Green Bay contributed to this story. Mike Alstott Jersey . He might have to reconsider. What seemed like a throwaway line in Roger Penskes speech Friday night appears to be an actual offer for Stewart to drive the Indianapolis 500 next year. Vincent Jackson Pink Jersey . Only this call sounds so sweet to the Flyers. "Boooooooosh!" Brian Boucher delivered again in the post-season, this time stopping 20 shots in a relief effort, and the Flyers beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-4 on Saturday to even their first-round series at a game apiece. http://www.officialbuccaneersnfl.com/authentic-darrelle-revis-jersey-womens.html . -- Canadas Stephanie Dubois advanced to the semifinals with a win over Taiwans Hsu Wen-Hsin at the Granby Challenger tennis tournament Friday. Dashon Goldson Womens Jersey . The Mavs, who will also visit Golden State on their quick trek, have faltered a bit recently, losing for the second time in three games on Saturday when Kobe Bryant scored 16 points despite rolling his ankle during the third quarter, and the Los Angeles Lakers got back in the win column with a 96-91 victory in Dallas. Mark Barron Womens Jersey . Irving was stripped of the ball by Norris Cole in the closing seconds of the 96-95 loss to the Heat, who rested LeBron James and most of their stars. Irving immediately ran off the floor and to the locker room instead of participating in a jersey giveaway on "Fan Appreciation Night.Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Gonzaga made the Red Storms first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in eight years a brief one, as Marquise Carter scored 24 points to lead the 11th-seeded Bulldogs to a convincing 86-71 drubbing of sixth-seeded St. Johns in second-round Southeast Region action. The Bulldogs (25-9) shot 54 percent from the field and made 9-of-15 attempts from behind the arc, numbers they will look to replicate when they play third- seeded BYU on Saturday. Steven Gray and Elias Harris chipped in 16 and 15 points, respectively, for Gonzaga, which has rattled off 10 straight wins, including a victory over Saint Marys in the West Coast Conference tourney final last week. We played great. Im just tickled pink I guess, or whatever the saying is, joked Gonzaga head coach Mark Few. They took the game plan, just went out and executed it. Unbelievable. The Red Storm (21-12) couldnt overcome the loss of injured senior D.J. Kennedy, getting embarrassed on the glass by a 43-20 margin without their leading rebounder. Dwight Hardy led the way offensively with 26 points, but it wasnt enough to extend Steve Lavins first season at the helm. The absence of Kennedy, who went down with an torn ACL in a Big East Tournament quarterfinal loss to Syracuse last week, wasnt evident immediately, as St. Johns ripped off eight of the games first 10 points. A little later, however, Gonzaga got easy buckets inside during a 12-0 spurt that Gray capped with a steal and breakaway layup for a 24-14 lead. The margin reach as high as 15 in the opening half, which ended with Justin Brownlee nailing a jumper before the buzzer to get the Red Storm within 43-32. A fast-paceed start to the second half saw three different Gonzaga players hit from long range in the first three minutes, the last a Gray three-ball that pushed the lead to 52-38.dddddddddddd The giant-killing Red Storm, who defeated four top-10 teams in the regular season, failed to cut their deficit to single digits from there. Every time things got close, Gonzaga showcased its depth, as jumpers from David Stockton and Kelly Olynyk followed Dwayne Polee IIs dunk that had pulled St. Johns to 60-50. An 8-2 run shortly thereafter essentially put the game away, as Robert Sacres bucket yielded a 72-54 advantage with 6 1/2 minutes left that was too much for the short-handed Red Storm to overcome. Lavin was still positive following the loss. What I said to the kids right after the game was ... five years from now, theyre going to look back and realize that they brought St. Johns basketball back, the coach preached. [The incoming class has] lofty standards now to live up to because of this group of 10 seniors that put the foundation in place for the future of our program. They gave our coaching staff the ride of a lifetime. Game Notes The Pepsi Center saw three upsets on Sunday, as No. 13 Morehead State beat fourth-seeded Louisville and 12th-seeded Richmond dumped fifth-seeded Vanderbilt...Gonzaga improved to 16-13 in the NCAA Tournament, while St. Johns fell to 27-29 in the event...Gonzaga also beat St. Johns in the second round of the 2000 NCAA tourney...Sacre totaled nine points and nine rebounds for the Bulldogs, who recorded 20 assists on 28 successful field goals...Brownlee netted 14 points in defeat. ' ' '