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Jan 4 '18
NEW YORK -- Once in a while, Gary Matthews relives how close his Chicago Cubs came to reaching the World Series. Authentic Mariners Jerseys .Actually, a little more often.Wow, he said. Think about that every day.With his former team just one win from its first World Series trip since 1945, fans everywhere already are envisioning the excitement at Wrigley Field. The Cubs lead the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 in the NL Championship Series and can clinch the pennant in Game 6 on Saturday night.Matthews knows well that feeling of anticipation. Too well, in fact.In 1984, Matthews hit two home runs in Game 1 of the best-of-five NLCS as the Cubs romped over San Diego 13-0. The popular left fielder nicknamed Sarge contributed to a win in Game 2, too.But with a frenzied city preparing to host the Fall Classic, the Cubs went to the West Coast, dropped three in a row to the Padres and lost their chance.In 2003, Matthews was the Cubs hitting coach under manager Dusty Baker. Chicago rushed to a 3-1 lead in the NLCS over the Florida Marlins, but once again lost three straight and got eliminated.Matthews still has a home in Chicago, and would love to soak up the World Series atmosphere at Wrigley. Maybe throw out a first ball along the way.But hes acutely aware that things can fall apart quickly. Especially when the Cubs are involved.My stomach is actually turning even now realizing they only need one more game, he said Friday. Been there ... didnt get it done.It would be nice to talk about something else besides `they almost made it. Or, favorite line of the Cubs or in Chicago -- `wait till next year, he said. Then we can put that to bed.Thats even before they can take aim at the Billy Goat Curse and try to win their first crown since 1908.Matthews got more than 2,000 hits and scored more than 1,000 runs in an All-Star career. He was the 1983 NLCS MVP for Philadelphia when he homered three times and drove in eight runs in a four-game series with the Dodgers. He homered in the World Series that year as the Phillies lost to Baltimore.The next year, he was traded late in spring training to the Cubs. Matthews led the majors in on-base percentage in 1984, teaming with Ryne Sandberg and Rick Sutcliffe to help Chicago make its first postseason appearance in nearly 40 years. In the deciding Game 5 against the Padres, the Cubs took a 3-0 lead into the sixth inning before it got away.Talk with Ryne Sandberg, he thinks about it every single day, Matthews said.The disappointment of that near-miss was still in his mind two decades later when Matthews was in the dugout as the Cubs took on the Marlins.Realizing the history of the Cubs, not winning since 1908, that we can finally put that goat to rest, he said. Hes still -- baaaaaaah -- out there.In Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS, with the Cubs one win from earning that elusive World Series spot, they took a 3-0 lead into the eighth inning. In what became known for the night fan Steve Bartman deflected a foul fly, Chicago let it get away. The next day, the Cubs fell in Game 7.Six outs. That close, Matthews said.Matthews was visiting the New York area this weekend to see a son who works for Major League Baseball. Another son, Gary Jr., was an All-Star outfielder.The 66-year-old Matthews enjoyed a good run as a player, coach and broadcaster in the big leagues. Hes now rooting hard for Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and these Cubs to finally break the jinx.I think they have as good a chance as any of the Cubs teams, he said, smiling, since 1908. Womens Mariners Jerseys . Coach Mike Munchak says Fokou stretched ligaments in his left knee Oct. 13 against Seattle, which could keep out up to five weeks even though the linebacker didnt need surgery. Mariners Jerseys From China . Catch all the action on TSN2 at 11pm et/8pm pt. The nine-time Big 12 champion Jayhawks are positioning themselves for another title, as they have run out to a flawless 6-0 mark in conference play thus far. http://www.cheapmarinersjerseyschina.com/ . -- Matt Kuchar and Harris English ran away with the Franklin Templeton Shootout, shooting a 14-under 58 on Sunday in the final-round scramble to break the tournament course record. NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Belmonts Rick Byrd is defensive about preseason polls and his Bruins in general.He doesnt like polls or the way Belmont played defense last season.That didnt matter to his fellow coaches in the Ohio Valley Conference. Byrds Belmont Bruins received 16 of 24 first-place votes from the leagues coaches and sports information directors in a poll released Wednesday with the leagues media day.I dont like preseason polls at all, I dont like preseason all-conference teams, Byrd said. Nobodys earned anything. If we dont get better defensively, were not going to get where we need to get.Belmont ranked 312th out of 346 Division I teams allowing 78.4 points per game last season when the Bruins (20-12) lost to Georgia in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.Byrd, going into his 31st season with 731 career wins, describes himself as an offensive-minded coach but plans to base playing time more on defense than in years past.One Bruin who will log a lot of minutes is reigning OVC Player of the Year Evan Bradds, also the preseason player of the year.The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 17.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game last season. The senior led Division I in field goal percentage the past two years, including 71.4 percent last season.Evan, maybe more than any other player weve ever had at Belmont, has this gift and knack for scoring the basketball inside, Byrd said. He has great touch scoring it around the basket, over bigger guys, under bigger guys, through bigger guys. So all we do is throw it to him and get out of the way.Belmont returns 12 players, including senior guard Taylor Barnette, junior forward Amanze Egekeze and junior guard Austin Lake.While the Bruins are favored to winn the East Division, Murray State is picked to win the West. Cheap Mariners Jerseys. The Racers have won the West the past four seasons, including a 17-14 mark last season when they lost in the OVC tournament quarterfinals.I really like our team, Racers coach Matt McMahon said. We have three seniors back who played huge role for us last season. All three have gotten much better as players and as leaders in the offseason, so I think all three are ready to take a step forward.Senior guards Bryce Jones (12.7 points and 4.2 assists), Damarcus Croaker (9.6 points, 4.5 rebounds) and Gee McGhee (9 points, 4.7 rebounds) give Murray State an explosive backcourt.Austin Peay was the leagues surprise last season as the first No. 8 seed to win the OVC tournament, upsetting four teams in four days.Our guys have got to understand that theyve got a target on their back, Austin Peay coach Dave Loos said. They also need to understand that we need to put that in the rear-view mirror.OVC tournament MVP Chris Horton graduated, but the Governors return 10 players, including three starters. Guards Josh Robinson (16.9 points) and Jared Savage (record 19 3-pointers in tournament) will lead the way for Loos, who returns for his 27th season.Tennessee State is picked to finish second in the East under Dana Ford, last seasons OVC Coach of the Year.If we compete as a unit consistently from the start of the game to the end and we stay healthy, I like our chances to play anybody in the league, said Ford, whose Tigers improved by 15 wins to 20-11 last year.Online:More AP College Basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org ;Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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