lingzi
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Helen Upperton was a relative newcomer to the circuit when she watched fellow
Canadian Pierre Lueders reach the top of the bobsled podium in 2004. Andrew Luck Youth Jersey . She knew right
then that she wanted to reach the same height in womens bobsled. Upperton
achieved her goal nearly two years later and would go on to put the Canadian
womens team on the map. Upperton announced her retirement Thursday, ending a
nearly decade-long run as one of the countrys top bobsled pilots. “I would
definitely say its bittersweet,” Upperton said from Calgary. “Its very hard to
stop doing something that you love so much and I love bobsledding. “I loved it
since the very first time that I went down the track.” Upperton, a 32-year-old
from Calgary, earned the Canada I position in her first full season as a pilot
in 2003. A few years later, she became the first Canadian to win a womens World
Cup bobsled race by taking gold in St. Moritz, Switzerland. She finished with
six World Cup titles and 20 podium appearances. Upperton also picked up several
team medals over her career and raced with a variety of brakemen including
Kaillie Humphries, Heather Moyse, Jenny Ciochetti and Shelley-Ann Brown. Her
career zenith came with Brown—who also retired Thursday—when they won
silver at the Vancouver Olympics in 2010. “Getting to do it at home is such a
rare chance and I feel so lucky that I was part of the Canadian winter sports
system during a home Olympic Games,” she said. “It was incredible.” They were
joined on the podium by Humphries and Moyse, who won gold on the Whistler track
in front of an adoring home crowd. Uppertons breakout season came in 2005, a
year after her motivation level rose significantly by watching Lueders anchor
the Canadian mens sled to a world title in Germany. “I stood there and watched
him and I thought, One day, thats going to be us,” Upperton said. “I had just
decided that it was going to happen. I was like, This is going to happen. “And
sure enough, the next year we were on top of the podium.” That first win came on
the World Cup circuit in January 2006, just a month before they settled for a
fourth-place finish at the Turin Olympics. The 32-year-old Brown, meanwhile,
joined the national program that year. She would make her first appearance on
the World Cup podium in 2007 and had mixed results over the years leading up to
her Olympic silver. “Retiring as an athlete is bittersweet because its the last
line in one of the most significant chapters in ones life,” Brown said. “Yet I
look back over my Canadian bobsleigh career with nothing but utter gratitude.”
Upperton plans to host and co-produce an adventure reality television show that
will begin airing next month. Brown, who has a masters degree in educational
psychology, has enrolled in teachers college at the University of Toronto.
“Helen and Shelley-Ann are leaving our sport having played a significant role in
putting us on the international radar screen and ensuring its credibility within
the Canadian sport system,” said Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton president Reid
Morrison. “Doing much of the heavy lifting for our womens program with talented
athletes like Shelley-Ann in her sled, Helen has opened the door for other
Canadian women to believe they too can get on the podium and win.” Upperton said
she had been thinking about retirement over the last few years, especially as
the nagging injuries started to pile up. “Its sad and exciting,” she said of her
decision. “Opening a new chapter in your life is always an exciting thing to do
and a little bit scary. Obviously retirement for most athletes is a pretty big
challenge. “So Im in that process right now and Im trying to keep myself busy
and see where the next adventure is going to take me.” Andrew Luck Shirts . Hockey Canada announced
Friday that its top World Junior eligible prospects will play a four-game series
- dubbed the 2012 Canada-Russia Challenge – in mid-August in lieu of its annual
summer evaluation camp. T.Y. Hilton Womens Jersey . 8. For Andy
Murray, its No. 1—and the first for a British man since 1938. http://www.coltsteamstore.com/coby-fleener-jersey
. PETERSBURG, Fla. Reggie Wayne Youth Jersey . “Great job,
Manu,” Parker said, having heard hardly a word of Ginobilis five-minute,
question-and-answer session. After losing for the first time since mid-April, it
was time for the San Antonio Spurs to face an entirely different set of
questions Friday with their Western Conference finals lead over Oklahoma City
cut to 2-1. Donnie Avery Jersey . Soriano hit a go-ahead
homer in the eighth inning and the Chicago Cubs snapped an eight-game losing
streak with a 5-3 win over the slumping Cincinnati Reds on a rain-soaked
Thursday night.PHILADELPHIA—Shane Victorino will hear an unfamiliar sound at
Chavez Ravine: cheers. The Phillies traded the two-time All-Star centre fielder
to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday for reliever Josh Lindblom and minor
league pitcher Ethan Martin. Philadelphia also gets a player to be named or cash
for the 31-year-old Victorino, who can become a free agent after the season. The
last-place Phillies then sent two-time All-Star right fielder Hunter Pence to
the San Francisco Giants for three players. “Mahalo to the (at)Phillies and the
AMAZING fans in Philly for a great run. A lot of unforgettable memories in this
city. Ill miss you guys!” Victorino wrote on Twitter. Victorino is batting .261
with nine homers, 40 RBIs and 24 steals. He helped the Phillies win five
straight NL East titles and the 2008 World Series championship. “Were excited to
add an All-Star calibre player with post-season experience,” Dodgers general
manager Ned Colletti said. “He plays the game with passion, gives us a top of
the order bat from both sides of the plate, can steal bases and is solid
defensively in the outfield.” Victorino has been booed at Dodger Stadium since
Game 3 of the 2008 NL championship series. Victorino took exception to a
fastball thrown over his head by Hiroki Kuroda. He shouted at Kuroda while
pointing at his own head and upper body as if to say: “Its OK to throw at my
body, but not my head.” Benches cleared, but no punches were thrown. Since that
day, Victorino has been a villain to Dodgers fans. Not anymore. Victorino joins
a team thats tied for first place in the NL West with the Giants. Though hes a
three-time Gold Glove winner, he could move to left field because reigning Gold
Glove winner Matt Kemp plays centre. Kemp, however, told team officials that hed
be willing to move to left before the trade. Victorino primarily batted second
in Philadelphias lineup, though he hit everywhere from first to sixth this
season. Hes expected to lead off for Los Angeles, which hasnt had much
production in that slot. Dodgers leadoff hitters have a .221 average and .279
on-base percentage this season. Victorinos on-base percentage is .324, down from
.355 last year. “He is definitely a character and also he can handle in a real
good way at times,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “Other times, hes also
worried about everything. Really. Hes worried about somebody in the stands. Hes
worried about this. Hess worried about that. Andrew Luck Blue Jersey. . Hes worried about
everything. Youre like, can I question how focused he can stay for a long period
of time? But I look at his talent, and his talent was tremendous.” Victorino is
the second major addition for the Dodgers in the past week. They acquired
three-time All-Star and former NL batting champion Hanley Ramirez from Miami
last Thursday. Los Angeles strengthened its bullpen late Monday night, acquiring
former All-Star reliever Brandon League from the Seattle Mariners for two
prospects. “Its been a whirlwind for the Dodger organization,” team partner
Magic Johnson said. “Were in it to win it. We dont want to wait till next year.
We want to win right now.” “Hanley Ramirez has really improved our lineup, and
now Shane—man, you need somebody with that type of speed. Hes gutty, hes
gritty, hes tough-minded, and I think hes going to help the locker room as well
as on the field. And hes a guy whos done it. So were excited about having him,”
he said. Lindblom was 2-2 with a 3.02 ERA in 48 relief appearances for Los
Angeles. The 25-year-old righty has a 2.91 ERA in 75 career games. Hell bolster
a bullpen thats struggled mightily this season. Martin, a 23-year-old righty,
was the Dodgers first round selection with the 15th pick in the 2008 amateur
draft. Hes 8-6 with a 3.58 ERA in 20 starts this season with Double-A
Chattanooga. Victorino returns to the team that selected in the sixth round of
the 1999 amateur draft. He was a winter league draft selection by the Phillies
in 2004 from the San Diego Padres. The switch-hitting Victorino batted .279 with
181 doubles, 63 triples, 88 home runs, 390 RBIs and 179 stolen bases in eight
years with the Phillies. In 46 post-season games, Victorino hit .269 with six
homers and 30 RBIs. Victorino is making $9.5 million this season, and the
Phillies werent going to give him the long-term deal hell seek in free agency.
Under baseballs new labour contract, the Dodgers will not receive a draft
selection as compensation if Victorino signs elsewhere during the off-season.
Victorino, nicknamed the Flyin Hawaiian, was one of the most popular players on
the Phillies in recent history. He was beloved by fans and was very active in
various charities. “Wishing my Lil Hawaiian brother all the best & continued
success. Although he is no longer rockin the P he has definitely left his mark!”
shortstop Jimmy Rollins wrote on Twitter. ’ ’ ’
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