DENVER -- Chicago Cubs All-Star first baseman Anthony Rizzo is the winner of the 2014 Branch Rickey award in recognition of his community work with pediatric cancer patients. Jacob Waguespack Blue Jays Jersey . At 25, hes the youngest person to receive the award -- 4 1-2 months younger than last years winner, Los Angeles Dodgers lefty Clayton Kershaw. Created by the Rotary Club of Denver in 1991, the Branch Rickey Award honours individuals in baseball who contribute to their communities and are strong role models for young people. Each year, major league teams nominate a player, coach or executive, either active or retired, for the award. The award is named in honour of the late baseball executive known for creating the framework for the modern minor league farm system and for breaking baseballs colour barrier by signing Jackie Robinson, the first black player in the major leagues. He also hired the first Latino player, Roberto Clemente. "Its awesome. It really is," Rizzo said. "What he did, obviously with Jackie Robinson, its pretty special to win the award. To be recognized for something like that, its special for me and my family." In 2007, at the age of 17, Rizzo was drafted by the Boston Red Sox after graduating from high school in Parkland, Florida. During his first season in the minor leagues, he was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma. After months of chemotherapy, his cancer went into remission. Since then, hes made regular visits to pediatric cancer patients at Lurie Childrens Hospital in Chicago and Joe DiMaggio Childrens Hospital in Hollywood, Florida. The Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation was founded in 2012 to raise money for cancer research and provide support for children and families fighting the disease. The foundation has held two "Walk Offs for Cancer" and two "Cook Offs for Cancer," raising more than $500,000 altogether. The third annual "Walk Off for Cancer" will be held on Nov. 16 in Parkland, Florida. Rizzo joined the Cubs at midseason in 2012 and became the first Cubs player to collect three game-winning hits in his first five games. Jason Adam Jersey .3 seconds remaining, and No. 7 North Carolina held off a resilient No. 25 Virginia team, 54-51, on Saturday. John Henson contributed a double-double with 15 points to go with 11 rebounds for the Tar Heels (25-4, 12-2 ACC), who have won five straight and 10 of 11. Carlos Delgado Blue Jays Jersey . They actually finished with a better record in ‘07 than they did in ‘06 but only marginally, going from 61 victories to 66.BALTIMORE - At this point in the season, when results count far more than style, the Baltimore Ravens will happily accept a flawed victory.That is precisely what they got Sunday.The Ravens trailed at halftime and never built a comfortable lead against lowly Jacksonville, yet did just enough to squeeze out a 20-12 win to stay in the thick of the AFC playoff race.Eight sacks of rookie Blake Bortles and a touchdown on a blocked punt were the highlights of an otherwise forgettable performance by Baltimore.The Ravens (9-5) scored just once with their offence on the field and gained only 31 yards rushing through three quarters. The usually reliable Justin Tucker missed two field goal tries, and all three units made enough mistakes to keep a football coach up late at night — even after a victory.We had too many to overcome to play the kind of football we wanted to play, coach John Harbaugh said. Too many long-yardage situations, too many penalties, too many special teams penalties ... too many things we had to clean up.But the defence was sound, and there were enough positives to enable Baltimore to escape with its fourth win in five games.Our guys have the ability to overcome adversity and have the ability to keep pounding and keep fighting and not let self-inflicted wounds overcome us, Harbaugh said.Terrell Suggs was credited with 2 1/2 sacks and rookie Timmy Jernigan, starting for the suspended Haloti Ngata, had two.Were doing what we just do best — knocking down quarterbacks, said linebacker Elvis Dumervil, who had a sack to match his single-season high of 17.Jacksonville (2-12) tried just about everything in its bid to pull off an upset, including an onside kick and a fake punt. Both worked, but it wasnt enough to earn the Jaguars their first win on the road.Joe Flacco went 20 for 30 for 221 yards and a touchdown for the Ravens, who blanked the Jaguars over the final 30 minutes.Bortles completed 21 of 37 passes for 210 yards, and an interception that came in the games final minute. He threw under pressure for most of the game — Baltimores season-high eight sacks increased the number Jacksonville has yielded this season to 62.Bortles played much of the game with a sprained right foot and was in a walking boot afterwardd. Vernon Wells Jersey. Theyre great up front. We knew that coming into the game, Bortles said of the Ravens. A lot of the sacks were on me holding the ball too long. Its something that Im working on and have to do better.The Jaguars points came on four field goals by Josh Scobee.No touchdowns, coach Gus Bradley lamented. Even if we get one, one touchdown, it gives us a great opportunity in this game.After leaving to jeers on their first series of the second half, the Ravens mounted an 80-yard drive to take a 17-12 lead with 8:34 left in the third quarter. Flacco went 5 of 5 for 65 yards, including a 27-yard completion to Owen Daniels and a 3-yard touchdown pass to the tight end.The Jaguars were then poised for a three-and-out, but punter Bryan Anger flipped a pass to Will Taufoou for 19 yards to extend the drive. Five plays later, however, Jacksonville punted.From that point, neither team had much success moving the ball until the Ravens put together a late 49-yard march that produced a field goal and an eight-point cushion with 1:11 remaining.Obviously it didnt go as smoothly as we would have liked, Daniels said, but thats the way it is.Baltimore trailed 12-10 at halftime after gaining only 13 yards on the ground and going 0 for 6 on third-down conversions.Three straight plays during the games opening series showed why Jacksonville came to town with only two wins. After tight end Marcedes Lewis dropped a second-down pass, Bortles missed connecting with a wide-open Cecil Shorts.On fourth down, Baltimores Darian Stewart burst through the line to block Angers punt. Kamar Aiken scooped up the ball and went 11 yards for a touchdown, Baltimores first score on a blocked punt since Ed Reed did it against Seattle in 2003.From there, the only scoring in the first half came on field goals.NOTES: Ravens S Terrence Brooks hurt his right knee on the games first play and is likely lost for the season, Harbaugh said. ... Jaguars LB Ryan Davis (hip) and Ravens DB Asa Jackson (knee) left early and did not return. ... Flacco went over 25,000 yards for his career. Hes at 25,024. ... Ravens WR Steve Smith became the 18th player in NFL history with 900 career catches.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '
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CHAMPIONNAT JURASSIEN DE JASS
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