National poll finds the New York Yankees to be America’s Team
When asked to name the Major League Baseball team they consider to be “America’s Team,” the Yankees were named by 41.6% of respondents with an opinion, in a national poll conducted by the Sacred Heart University Polling Institute. This was followed by the Red Sox at 16.3% and the Braves at 6.9%. A total of twenty-five teams were named.
Which MLB team do you consider to be “America’s Team”? Sept. 2009
Yankees 41.6%
Red Sox 16.3
Braves 6.9
Cubs 7.3
Phillies 4.2
Cardinals 5.0
Mets 2.5
Tigers 2.5
Other teams named with less frequency included: White Sox, Blue Jays, Oakland As, Orioles, Tampa Bay, Dodgers, Rangers, Brewers, Reds, Giants, Pirates, Indians, Twins and Angels.
Source: Sacred Heart University
12 local athletes and coaches chosen for U.S. Wheelchair Basketball Team
naugural Australian Paralympic Youth Games set for Oct. 5-11
The United States has been invited to participate in the inaugural Australian Paralympic Youth Games in Melbourne, Australia, in October. The wheelchair basketball team includes nine athletes and three coaches from Courage Center in Golden Valley, Minn. The competition takes place October 5-11 at the Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre. The Paralympic event includes teams from throughout Australia plus international teams of athletes age 20 years or younger as of December 31, 2009.
The U.S. roster includes:
(* Courage Center representative)
Athletes
Greg Anger, 20, Milwaukee, Wis., Missouri Tigers
*Robert Doyle, 16, Eden Prairie, Courage Center Junior Rolling Timberwolves
*Ben Kenyon, 18, Minnetonka, Minn., Wisconsin-Whitewater (Courage Center alum)
Dylan Fischbach, 14, Nebraska Red Dawgs, South Dakota
*Joe Dixon, 16, Lakeville, Minn., Courage Center Junior Rolling Timberwolves
Jon Ruiz, 15, Chicago, Ill., Windy City Warriors
*Mark Braun, 15, Mounds View, Minn., Courage Center Junior Rolling Timberwolves
*Rose Hollermann, 13, Elysian, Minn., Courage Center Junior Rolling Timberwolves
*Derrick Bisnett, 16, Bismarck, N.D., Courage Center Junior Rolling Timberwolves
*Robbie Wilhelm, 18, St. Paul, Minn., Courage Center Junior Rolling Timberwolves
*Connor Downes, 18, Rosemount, Minn., Missouri Tigers (Courage Center alum)
Sam Blakley, 16, Utah, Utah Wheelin’ Jazz
Staff
*Mike Bauler, Head coach, New Hope, Courage Center Junior Rolling Timberwolves
Trent Thenhaus, assistant coach, Chicago, Ill., Windy City Warriors
*Brendan Downes, assistant coach, Rosemount, Minn., Arizona Wildcats
*Jeff Downes, team manager, Dallas, Texas, Courage Center Junior Rolling Timberwolves
*Tim Kenyon, assistant team manager, Minnetonka, Minn., Courage Center
Junior Rolling Timberwolves
More Info:
www.wsv.org.au/events/australian-paralympic-youth-games.html
MMA returns to primetime on CBS with STRIKEFORCE: FEDOR VS. ROGERS Live on Saturday, Nov. 7
Fedor, the #1 Ranked MMA Heavyweight in the World, To Be Seen for the First Time by Broadcast Television Audience
The CBS Television Network will return to the mixed martial arts (MMA) cage with STRIKEFORCE: FEDOR VS. ROGERS, to be broadcast Saturday, Nov. 7 (9:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT). SHOWTIME Sports will produce the four-fight event with host Gus Johnson calling the action and MMA legend Frank Shamrock and Mauro Ranallo serving as color analysts.
In 2008, CBS aired the first live MMA fights on network television, with three successful events earning time period-winning ratings in all key young adult and young men demographics. CBS’s most recent broadcast in October 2008 ranked as the night’s highest-rated program on both broadcast and cable in adults 18-34 and men 18-34, topping all other sports programming in those demographics, including the Major League Baseball playoffs and college football.
On Nov. 7, the world’s Number One-ranked MMA heavyweight fighter, Fedor Emelianenko of Russia, will face undefeated American Brett Rogers of Minnesota in the marquee match up. The fight marks the first bout for the highly coveted Emelianenko since his promotional company M-1 Global signed an agreement with STRIKEFORCE to co-promote major events.
“There’s no question this is a sport that is fast becoming a force in popularity and as a business,” said Kelly Kahl, Senior Executive Vice President, Prime Time, CBS Television. “We’re excited to be the platform that will enable millions more to see the athlete regarded as the very best in his sport. The Number One heavyweight on the most-watched network has a very nice ring to it.”
Simply referred to as “Fedor” by fans around the world, the 6-foot, 235-pound Russian is one of the most dominant fighters in the sport. He is a master of the Russian military combat system Sambo and boasts a record of 30 wins, one loss, no draws with 16 wins by submission, seven knockouts and seven decisions. The 28-year-old Rogers (10-0) is a massive physical specimen standing 6-feet, 5-inches tall and weighing 265 pounds. He possesses two of the heaviest hands in the sport of MMA, an attribute that has helped him knock out all 10 of his professional opponents.
“It is an honor to have the opportunity to bring the STRIKEFORCE brand to CBS,” said Scott Coker, Founder and CEO of STRIKEFORCE. “We are looking forward to bringing MMA back to the network and to having the world’s No. 1 heavyweight–Fedor–compete for the first time on live network television against one of America’s most promising young, undefeated stars–Brett Rogers.”
STRIKEFORCE has experienced significant growth since it launched its first MMA promotion on March 10, 2006. After signing a landmark deal to air live events on SHOWTIME earlier this year, STRIKEFORCE earned the premium network its highest MMA rating ever on August 15 with Carano vs. Cyborg. Shortly before the live telecast, the main event principals–Gina Carano and Cris “Cyborg” Santos–were the most searched terms on Yahoo! and Google, while the fight was the most discussed subject on Twitter.
Source: CBS Television Network