Bewerbungen » a-lifetime status,

CHICAGO -- Anthony Rizzo was annoyed as he faced a sea of microphones before the Chicago Cubs first game following the All-Star break.The only people that are panicking about this team is the media, Rizzo said. Its been pretty negative all the comments coming out of everyones mouth, except in this clubhouse.A few hours later, the Cubs put together one of their best games of the season.Kyle Hendricks and four relievers combined on a five-hitter, Addison Russell had a two-run single to key a five-run sixth inning, and the Cubs beat the Texas Rangers 6-0 on Friday in a matchup of slumping division leaders.We pitched and really played defense today, manager Joe Maddon said. It was outstanding.The Cubs won for the seventh time in 22 games, while the Rangers lost their eighth in 10 games thanks to a rough sixth that included Prince Fielders throwing error.As Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester have struggled lately, Hendricks (8-6) has remained sharp. The former Rangers draft pick allowed three hits in six innings, lowering his ERA to 2.41.Only stars Clayton Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner have lower ERAs in the majors.Kyles one of the best pitchers in the National League right now and nobody is talking about it, Maddon said.Carl Edwards Jr. struck out two in a perfect seventh and Travis Wood, Pedro Strop and Justin Grimm combined for the final six outs in Chicagos eighth shutout.Russells bases-loaded hit in the sixth was followed by pinch-hitter Matt Szczurs two-run single against Martin Perez (7-6).One of the runs was unearned after Fielder fired a throw high and wide of third in a rare start at first base due to interleague play.The sixth inning got away from us, Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. I felt like Martin was still making good pitches, still had life on his pitches. We just didnt help him out.The Cubs, who entered percentage points ahead of Texas for the second-best record in the majors behind San Francisco, had seven hits on an unseasonably cool, drizzly day with the wind blowing in.The breeze kept Rizzos drive to right in the park in the sixth that helped load the bases and extend his hitting streak to 10 games. Two batters later Russell came through.Took a few days off and came back and felt great, Russell said.Albert Almora Jr. added two fine catches in center field, Ben Zobrist made a nifty play at third and catcher Willson Contreras threw out Rougned Odor stealing second.We played poorly the last three weeks or so and showed our vulnerability and humanity as a team, Cubs president Theo Epstein said. In the long run that might be a good thing because it means we know how hard we have to work and how well we have to play to get where we want to go.TRAINERS ROOMRangers: LHP Jake Diekman, who cut his left index finger on a beer mug earlier this month in Boston, was placed on the 15-day disabled list. Its retroactive to July 6. ... RHP Keone Kela (elbow) was activated. ... LF Shin-Soo Choo (back) was out of the lineup. Ryan Rua replaced him, while Odor led off.Cubs: OF Dexter Fowler (hamstring) isnt expected back before the end of next week. ... C David Ross was activated off the seven-day concussion list. ... RHP Trevor Cahill (right knee tendinitis) was placed on the 15-day DL. ... OF Jorge Soler (hamstring) could start a rehab assignment soon. ... RHP Adam Warren returned to the bullpen, but could make another spot start.PHONES BUSYEpstein said they had a few things going on, but didnt get anything done regarding trades during the All-Star break. The Cubs are seeking bullpen help, while the Rangers want starting pitching.PEREZS HITPerez recorded his first major league hit with a swinging bunt toward third base in the second. He had been 0 for 9. Perez was charged with five runs in 5 2/3 innings.NICE LOOKFormer Cubs and Rangers pitcher Ryan Dempster sported giant glasses and a white wig in an impressive Harry Caray impersonation while leading the crowd during the seventh inning stretch.UP NEXTRangers RHP Yu Darvish (2-0, 2.87 ERA) returns from the disabled list and starts Saturday against Cubs RHP Jason Hammel (7-5, 3.46). Darvish is expected to throw 85-90 pitches. Yeezy 350 Discount .Y. - Jerome Samson scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the St. Yeezy 350 Outlet . -- About a third of the way through the regular season, the Washington Wizards are at . https://www.cheapyeezy350outlet.com/ . Giroud, who wasnt in the starting lineup for two matches after allegations about his private life and a decline in form, scored twice in the first half. Tomas Rosickys chip made it 3-0 before half time at Emirates Stadium, while defender Laurent Koscielny scored an unmarked header in the second half. Yeezy 350 China .com) - The red-hot Los Angeles Kings will try to extend their winning streak to a season-high seven games when they visit the Edmonton Oilers for Sundays clash at Rexall Place. Yeezy 350 Cheap . LOUIS -- Alexander Steen scored a power-play goal with 59. Call it the Big Bang of NBA fandom in China.Chinese basketball fans began watching NBA games in 1987, the year in which China Central Television (CCTV) began broadcasting NBA games. Megastars such as ?Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson instantly became household names. Then along came more transformational American talents like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James?and Stephen CurryYao Ming, however, always has a special place in Chinese fans hearts.The 7-foot-6 center from Shanghai isnt flashy. Unlike Allen Iverson, Yaos image is so clean that it borders on boring. The color of Yaos Reebok sneakers is so dull that for many years in China it lagged far behind Nikes glamour shoes.Hes too tall -- basically no Chinese person can relate to or emulate his playing style. Generation after generation, Chinese teenagers have worn baggy pants like Iverson or Under Armour sneakers like Curry, mimicking the look and moves of their idols. And they simply dont practice Yaos post moves.But Yao is one of us. His experience is our experience; his time is our time.A generational symbolIn China, those who were born in the 1980s are called post-80ers. They are part of the first generation that started to enjoy the benefits of Chinas economic reforms of the late 70s that allowed a more open market. Yao was born in 1980. His parents generation emerged hungry from the suffering and political turmoil they grew up in. They were able to provide for their children. When Yao was growing up, millions of Chinese people started to see the world beyond their own windows.Former NBA commissioner David Sterns tireless efforts to globalize the NBA took root in China in 1987, that same year, the American fast food restaurant chain Kentucky Fried Chicken opened its first store in Beijing. Two years later, the first Shanghai KFC outlet opened, and some time later, a 10-year-old Yao waited two hours in line to get his first taste of American food.Fifteen years after that the Houston Rockets drafted Yao as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft. The NBAs popularity in China boomed. His first game against Shaquille ONeal and the Lakers attracted more than 200 million viewers in China. The Rockets instantly beccame Chinas team.dddddddddddd Former U.S. President Bill Clinton described Yao Ming as Chinas single largest export to the United States.Yaos emergence on an elite world sports stage was followed by two fellow post-80ers: Liu Xiang, Yaos fellow Shanghai native, a gold-medal-winning 110-meter hurdler from the 2004 Olympics and world-record holder. And then came Li Na, at one time the worlds No. 2-ranked womens tennis player and two-time Grand Slam winner.By no small coincidence the trios success paralleled Chinas. The countrys gross domestic product per capita in 1987 was $302. It rose to $1,149 by 2002. That same year, KFC opened Chinas 700th restaurant.Post-YaoYao retired in 2011 because of persistent injury issues. Liu was next in 2012, and Li finished her career in 2014. In China, this big three enjoyed once-in-a-lifetime status, not only because each had world-class achievements, but also because they crafted a brand-new kind of Chinese athlete. They spoke English; they had a unique sense of humor; and their charisma was incomparable and, most importantly, authentic. After he finished his NBA career, Yao decided to go back to China. In a 2014 interview with the German magazine Der Spiegel, he said: There is more opportunity [in China]. We have a lot that can be developed.He was correct. Now back in China, he has made himself a professional basketball club owner (in 2009, he bought the Shanghai Sharks, his former CBA team), a successful businessman (he owns his own wine label), a congressman and an ambassador for wildlife protection.In 2015, Chinas per capita GDP was $8,027. KFC has more than 5,000 outlets all over the country.Yao is the product of his era. Fortunately for him and for most Chinese people, it has been a very good era.On Friday in Springfield, Massachusetts, an entire country will celebrate Yao Mings Hall of Fame entry. Undoubtedly his speech will thank everybody important to him. But it is the Chinese fans who will also thank him, for being the countrys best export -- and import -- between United States and China. ' ' '