ekansekans's blog: "df"

MARTINSVILLE, Va. Black Terrell Suggs Jersey . -- Jimmie Johnsons expectations are high at Martinsville Speedway, and his results keep showing why. The five-time series champion raced to his seventh career victory on NASCARs trickiest oval Sunday, and the triumph helped him erase a seven-point deficit and supplant Brad Keselowski as the points leader with three events remaining. But before handing Johnson the title, he cautioned, theres plenty of racing yet to do. "Im ecstatic about the win today and ecstatic about the points lead, but this is no cake-walk," Johnson said after the 59th victory of his career and fourth this season. "These guys are bringing their best each and every week. ... The next two races will tell the tale. Anything can happen. We could both wad it up next week and Clint Bowyer is your champion." Johnson moved two points ahead of Keselowski, who finished sixth for his highest career showing at the track. The series next moves to Texas and Phoenix before finishing up at Homestead-Miami. "I know this championships going to come down to Homestead," Keselowski said. "Youve just got to be in position to where youve got a shot at it and were doing the things its going to take." Both drivers needed only to look at Denny Hamlins day to be reminded that things can go south fast. Hamlin seemed poised to get in the thick of it, and then had an electrical problem that sent him to a 33rd place finish and out of contention. "When these things happen, youve just got to suck it up and move on," Hamlin said. "Theres nothing I can do about it. One of these days its going to be our time. Its just not right now." Keselowskis day was nowhere near as adventurous as Hamlins, but effective all the same. He started 32nd, methodically worked his way forward, and was never really a factor until he took a late gamble to grab the lead -- and a crucial bonus point. He was leading the race briefly when a caution flag flew and he and Dale Earnhardt Jr. opted to stay out, then watched as the other 16 lead-lap cars all headed for pit road for fresh tires. "I think weve learned a lesson here in the past not pitting late, and that certainly came into play," Johnson said. "I felt like it was going to be a problem for him. Weve been there before and stayed out and got beat." When the race went back to green with 19 laps to go, Keselowski was a sitting duck whose best bet was to hang on for as long as he could and then avoid any Martinsville mayhem that cropped up in a furious dash to the finish. He said the decision to stay out was his own, and he was shocked no one else followed. "Its at the end of the race and half the field had just pitted 20 or 30 laps ago," Keselowski said. "If I was running 15th, I would have stayed out. I would have put em in my shoes and said by golly, I would have stayed out. None of those guys did and I dont know why. Well Dale (Earnhardt) Jr. did. He had some sense. It just wasnt meant to be." Johnson, who led eight times for 193 laps, passed him on lap 487 on his way to making the race a bonus points bonanza. He got one for leading a lap, one for leading the most laps and three for the victory, wiping out a seven-point deficit. Busch was second, followed by Kasey Kahne, Aric Almirola, Bowyer, Keselowski, Jeff Gordon and Brian Vickers. On the final restart, Busch said he was trying to avoid spinning Johnson heading into turn one, but nudged him. Johnson slowed, and Busch too, and "when I went back to the gas, I spun my tires and got loose, and he squirted away from me." Bowyer also had a great car, leading 154 laps, and Gordon led 92. While the championship race tightened at the top, it also eliminated Hamlin, who seemed poised to get in the thick of it, and then had an electrical problem that sent him to a 33rd-place finish and out of title contention. Until the problems arose, Hamlin had put on a clinic about how to pass cars on the 0.526-mile oval. "When these things happen, youve just got to suck it up and move on," Hamlin said. "Theres nothing I can do about it. One of these days its going to be our time. Its just not right now." After his first pit stop, Hamlin was penalized for entering pit road too fast, a penalty that moved him to the back of the lead lap, which was 31st. Immediately, he started quickly working his way forward. After 200 laps, he was contending and actually left pit road with the lead, but again, he was penalized for speeding entering pit road, again dropping him to the back of the lead lap, this time 28th. He again worked his way into the top five until his problems dropped him 34 laps behind. Hamlin dropped 49 points off the pace. Bowyer is third, 26 back, and Kahne is 29 back. Torrey Smith Grey Jersey . Doug Fister pitched gamely, but his fine effort wasnt good enough either. Authentic Haloti Ngata Jersey . MFC 33: Collision Course will air on TSN2 on Saturday, June 9 at 4:30pm et/1:30pm pt and is sure to be an unforgettable experience of world-class fighters who put everything theyve got on the line. http://www.nflravensgearshop.com/ray-rice-jersey/ . Japan had a taken a 1-0 lead on Sunday but Berdych beat Go Soeda 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 and Frantisek Cermak and Radek Stepanek then prevailed in the decisive doubles in the Red Group tie, beating Tatsuma Ito and Soeda 6-2, 7-6 (4). Jacoby Jones Womens Jersey . John Mayberry Jr. and Erik Kratz hit back-to-back home runs and Hamels tied a season high with 10 strikeouts to help the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 Saturday night. White Ray Rice Jersey . The 21-year old Slovenian on Saturday eased through her semifinal on the Bastad Tennis Stadium the clay court, beating Mona Barthel of Germany 6-1, 6-3.Added-Time takes a look back at Week 1 of the English Premier League Season to get you caught up on all the important results, stories and moments.  This week, the champions grind out a one-goal victory while the team that made the biggest off-season splash, suffers a season opening crash. STORIES OF THE WEEK: Last seasons Premier League top scorer and player of the year Robin van Persie made his debut for Manchester United after completing a move from Arsenal less than a week before the beginning of the season, but it was Evertons Marouane Fellaini who stole the show in a 1-0 home victory. With the help of Fellainis size and effort from the opening kick to his substitution two minutes before the final whistle, Everton controlled the play and got the better of the scoring chances.  It was through the fine goalkeeping of David De Gea that United were able to stay in the game, as he was called on to make a number of crucial saves in both halves of the losing cause. The goal that ended up being the winner was scored by Fellaini, when he headed in a corner unmarked in the box in the 57th minute to break the deadlock. "It was a good goal, it was a good cross, a good corner. It was good for me and for Everton, said Fellaini to Sky Sports. New signing van Persie started the game on the bench and made his debut in the 68th minute with manager Alex Ferguson looking to inject some offense into his side, they were however not able to find the equalizing marker despite having 69% of the possession. Uniteds best scoring chance was cleared off the line by Everton defender Phil Jagielka, who also had a standout game for the winning side. "We knew it was a great team like Man United but fortunately the big man (Fellaini) put his head where it hurts and we had something to hang on to, said Jagielka to Sky Sports. Meanwhile on Sunday, defending champion Manchester City survived a scare from a very spirited Southampton side who are enjoying promotion to the top division for the first time since being relegated after the 2005 season. After scoring first through Carlos Tevez, it was a goal each from second half Southampton substitutes Rickie Lambert and Steven Davis that put the Champs behind, before being rescued by Edin Dzeko and Samir Nasri to secure three points and get their title defence underway. "It was like the last game of the season, weve started the same and I hope at the end it will be the same result for us," Nasri said to Sky Sports after the victory. Unfortunately for City, the story of Week 1 did not end with the come-from-behind victory.  In the opening ten minutes of the contest they lost last seasons hero Sergio Aguero to an apparent knee injury when he got tangled up with Southampton defender Nathaniel Clyne.  He was immediately substituted after the incident and though he was able to limp off the field was carried on a stretcher to the locker room.  Aguero reported on Twitter that scans showed no significant damage to his knee, but there has been no report from the team or medical officials about the status of the Argentine forward or the injury. Black Ed Reed Jersey.   Brendan Rodgers first day on the touchline for Liverpool was a rough one after his new side fell 3-0 to West Bromwich Albion.  In the loss, they were reduced to 10-men and forced to defend two penalties, turning away the first before conceding on the second.  "I thought the score-line was harsh," Rodgers said. Zoltan Gera, Peter Odemwingie and Romelu Lukaku were all on target for West Brom in the season opening victory. Arsenal immediately missed the finishing prowess of van Persie in their scoreless draw against Sunderland.  The presence of Lukas Podolski was not enough to help the Gunners find the back of the net. "The few chances we had we couldnt convert them, they defended the whole game very well," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said to the Associated Press. "We lacked something I would call sharpness and quality, and more accuracy in the final pass." RESULT OF THE WEEK: There were two huge results in the opening week of the season, however Swansea City with new manager Michael Laudrup calling the shots, after losing Rodgers to Liverpool, gets the nod for a 5-0 away victory over Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road Stadium. After holding a 1-0 halftime advantage, the Swans exploded after the break when Miguel Pérez Cuesta who fired in the opener, doubled their advantage eight minutes into the second frame.  Nathan Dyer then scored twice to open up a four-goal advantage for Swansea, before Scott Sinclair put the icing on the cake with a fifth marker. "Winning the first game in my debut, and also the teams first in their second season in the Premier League, away and 5-0," said Laudrup. "I dont think anyone couldve dreamed about that." The defeat could have even been heavier as Swansea twice hit the goal frame in the opening half after they had already taken the lead. Amazingly, Swansea share the top of the table with Fulham who also earned a 5-0 victory in their opening game at home against Norwich City.  Fulham was forced to play without their best player, American International Clint Dempsey who is in a dispute with the team and refusing to take the field. LOOKING AHEAD: There will be two EPL games broadcast this week on TSN2. In the first contest, Champions League winners Chelsea, who earned their first victory of the season on the road against Wigan, return to Stamford Bridge to take on newly promoted Reading, who earned a hard fought 1-1 draw against Stoke City in their return to the top flight. That game can be seen on TSN2, Wednesday at 2:30pm et/11:30am pt. On Saturday, the aforementioned top of the table Swansea City will face another team enjoying their first season back in the Premier League as they battle West Ham United on TSN2, Saturday at 7:30am et/4:30am pt. ' ' '