Dein erstes Forum » Tony Sipp tossed two perfect innings and the Astros

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabama coach Nick Saban and the football team are moving on. Saban has put to rest the speculation that he would replace Mack Brown at Texas by striking a new deal with Alabama. For the third-ranked Crimson Tide, the focus is on getting over the loss to Auburn and trying to finish the season strong in the Jan. 2 Sugar Bowl against No. 11 Oklahoma. Saban had said Friday night after agreeing to a new contract reportedly worth about $7 million a year that he planned to retire at Alabama. He said "there were no talks" between his representatives and Texas and pointed to comments on ESPN that he "never considered going to Texas." "I think Ive already made a reaction to that," Saban said. "Dont you watch ESPN? Didnt you see what they put down across the bottom line. Thats my reaction to it. "I dont have any more reactions to it. I think its kind of over so why do we want to talk about that? We look forward. Im looking forward. I made a commitment to our players that are here and Im happy to be committed to them and I want them to make the same kind of commitment to the program and to their future success." Brown announced his resignation at Texas on Saturday. Several Texas regents and a former regent were involved in a meeting with Sabans agent last January to gauge the coachs interest in coming to Texas. Saban found the best way to quash that talk: Re-upping with the Tide. Receiver Kevin Norwood never doubted it. "I went home for the break or whatever, and everybody was basically talking about it," Norwood said. "And I was like, Coach Saban is not going anywhere. And whatever social media was saying, whatever was happening after that, I pretty much ignored it." Alabama (11-1) returned to the practice field on Tuesday for the first time since the Iron Bowl. The game was tied until Chris Davis returned a missed field goal 109 yards for a touchdown on the final play to effectively end Alabamas bid for a third straight national championship. Now, the team is gearing up for a bowl trip that would be a prize for most teams, but could be viewed as a disappointment for the Tide. "Were fired up playing Oklahoma," defensive end Jeoffrey Pagan said. "Its not for a national championship or anything, but were going to go into it like it is. "Were going to try to finish this season as strong as possible." Left tackle Cyrus Kouandjio said Saban brought up the 2008 season when the Tide fell to Florida in the SEC championship game and to Utah in the Sugar Bowl. "He was like we shouldnt let this loss bring us down to the point where we just keep hang-dogging and keep our heads down going into the game and lose that game, too," Kouandjio said. On the field, Saban said guard Anthony Steen will miss the bowl game after having shoulder surgery. Off the field, the coach had more to celebrate than even his new contract. His son, Nicholas, and daughter-in-law had a baby on Sunday. The sometimes gruff Saban lit up talking about the experience that got him to the hospital in the wee hours. "To have a healthy baby and a healthy mother and someone that beautiful come into your family is really something that you have to count your blessings on," he said. "They actually had a rocking chair over there so I was kind of happy rocking that baby a little bit. Since then, I havent been able to go back. "I kind of miss the little bugger if you want to know the truth about it." TIDE BITS: Former Southern California and Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin, a onetime rival, has been visiting with Tide coaches this week in Tuscaloosa. Its a common practice for Alabama -- even Oklahomas staff has come to town -- and Saban said hes not sure why that would cause any stir. "Lane is a really good offensive coach, and Ive always had a tremendous amount of respect for him," Saban said. "Just to come in and brainstorm a little bit just some professional ideas with our guys, I think, is a real positive thing. And I dont know why theres any reaction to it. Im really quite surprised." NCAA Jerseys For Sale .com) - The University of Montana named Bob Stitt as its new head football coach on Tuesday. Cheap NCAA Jerseys China .com) - Charlie Davies netted a pair of goals, including the series-winner on Saturday, as the New England Revolution battled the New York Red Bulls to a 2-2 draw in the second leg of the Eastern Conference Championship at Gillette Stadium and advanced to MLS Cup final via a thrilling 4-3 aggregate victory. https://www.cheapncaajerseysjustwholesale.com/ . Nothing pretty. But this is 1/4 World Cup. Usually plays out this way. NCAA Basketball Jerseys . FIFA said in a statement Friday that "several racist and discriminatory incidents were apparently perpetrated by local supporters during the match, in particular by displaying neo-Nazi banners and by making monkey noises and gestures as well as Nazi salutes. College Jerseys . Louis Cardinals continued their offensive tear with a 9-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener of a four-game series.NEW YORK, N.Y. - Jonathon Nieses final start of the season ended sooner than expected.Niese exited in the sixth inning with an elevated heart rate, a condition hes dealt with before, and the Houston Astros rallied Friday night against Mets reliever Carlos Torres for a 3-1 victory over New York.I have an idea of whats going on; its not that scary, Niese said. I know its going to go away eventually, but sometimes it just lasts longer than others.Niese said hes only experienced the rapid heart rate when pitching. He went through all sorts of tests three years ago and was cleared by doctors, so he doesnt take any special medication.After the game Friday night, he said he was still deciding whether to have more tests.Unless I got a procedure done, theres a chance that it can come back. But it really isnt worth doing anything about because it doesnt happen that regularly, he said. I think its just physical stress. ... Adrenaline ... kind of spikes it, and thats kind of one of (those) things where thats the way my heart is built.Jose Altuve, closing in on the American League batting title, hit a tying single off Torres in a three-run sixth inning. Chris Carter and Robbie Grossman doubled, and Matt Dominguez capped the outburst with an RBI single.New Yorks relay beat Altuve to the plate on Carters double to deep left-centre, but catcher Anthony Recker was charged with an error when he dropped the ball while attempting to apply a tag.The diminutive Altuve, generously listed at 5-foot-6, is trying to become the first Astros player to win a batting crown. He went 1 for 4 and finished the night at .342, six points ahead of Detroit slugger Victor Martinez.It would mean a lot to me, Altuve said. But five, six points I think is nothing for Victor in two days.Altuve said hell play Saturday and Sunday no matter what.Im going to win it outside on the field, not sitting on the bench, he said.Kevin Chapman (2-0) got two outs, Tony Sipp tossed two perfect innings and the Astros (70-90) snapped a three-game skid by winning for the third time in 10 games. They reached 70 victories for the first time since winning 76 games in 2010.Big improvement from last year to this year, Altuve said. Next year were going to do even better and I think we can be in the playoffs.Chad Qualls worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his 19th save.Curtis Granderson hit his 20th homer for thhe Mets, already assured their sixth straight losing season since moving into Citi Field.dddddddddddd They are 38-41 in their own ballpark, guaranteeing them a losing record at home for the fourth year in a row.Niese was working on a three-hit shutout when he ducked under a throw to second base by Recker in the sixth. The left-hander bent over to stretch his arms and back after the play, bringing trainer Ray Ramirez and manager Terry Collins out of the dugout.Following a discussion on the mound, Niese walked off the field.I feel great, Niese said after the game. It went away as soon as Terry and Rey got out there. But until then, it was kind of still racing.Torres (8-6) was summoned and given all the time he needed to warm up.It didnt help.Niese left an outing at Texas in June 2011 when he struggled to catch his breath and another about a year later due to a rapid heartbeat. He had a battery of tests in 2011 that revealed nothing abnormal about his heart and was cleared to make his next start. He even wore a monitor for 24 hours to measure his heart throughout the day.This is the first time its happened since, Niese said. So once every two years, I will take that.Niese also underwent an extra EKG at spring training in 2012 and was declared healthy.It just comes out of nowhere. I just threw that last pitch and it just feels like your heart is beating really fast and really hard, he said. It can come back at any moment. It just happens.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: Interim manager Tom Lawless said relievers Josh Fields and Darin Downs, both sidelined by oblique injuries, remain day to day. ... CF Dexter Fowler was checked by a trainer in the sixth after getting hit by a pitch on the right wrist. Fowler stayed in the game and made a sliding catch moments later with two runners on.Mets: OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis was scratched from the lineup because he felt ill when he arrived at the ballpark. ... C Travis dArnaud will miss the final few games of the season because of a bone spur in his right elbow. He said he is scheduled for surgery Wednesday to remove the spur.UP NEXTLawless will formally interview for Houstons permanent managerial job with GM Jeff Luhnow on Saturday afternoon at Citi Field.Mets rookie RHP Rafael Montero (1-3, 4.38 ERA) makes his eighth major league start Saturday night against Astros RHP Samuel Deduno (2-6, 4.66). ' ' '