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BERLIN —Borussia Dortmund outclassed Bayern Munich 5-2 in the German Cup final
and claimed its first domestic double on Saturday. Joe Flacco Elite Jersey . Robert Lewandowski
led Dortmund to its first cup title in 23 years with a hat trick in front of a
sellout crowd in the Olympic Stadium. “What they did today is not possible to
put into words,” said Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp. “Its the outstanding moment.
Really, the feeling, its not possible to put it into words.” It was Bundesliga
champion Dortmunds unprecedented fifth consecutive win over Bayern, which plays
the Champions League final against Chelsea in Munich next Saturday. “The game
answered all questions,” Klopp joked at the press conference. His side has yet
to lose a game in 2012, having finished the Bundesliga with a record 81-point
haul and setting a record of 28 games unbeaten in a season. “We showed that we
deserved to win the league and cup,” said Dortmund captain Sebastian Kehl. “We
were always there, its indescribable. You had the feeling well put them away
again. Five goals against Bayern—sensational.” Ten players from Germanys
preliminary squad for Euro 2012 started the game, with Dortmunds Mario Goetze
and Sven Bender as well as Bayerns Thomas Mueller on the bench. “Congratulations
to Borussia. They deserved it today,” said Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes. “They
used our weaknesses. I dont need to explain what they were.” Dortmund scored
with its first charge, Jakub Blaszczykowski running onto Luiz Gustavos misguided
backpass, drawing Manuel Neuer out from goal and then cutting the ball back for
Japan star Shinji Kagawa to strike into the unguarded net after three minutes.
Kagawa may have played his last game for Dortmund before a mooted move to the
English Premier League. Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson, for one, was
watching from the stands. Roman Weidenfeller denied Bayerns Mario Gomez after
Arjen Robben played the striker through five minutes later, but the Dortmund
goalkeeper needed lengthy treatment on his ribs from his crucial interception.
Weidenfeller conceded a penalty in the 25th when he brought down Gomez, and
Robben—who dramatically missed the last penalty he took against Dortmund—
held his nerve to score. “They had good phases, but the big plus for my team is
that they can handle them,” Klopp said. Bayern should have gone ahead, Gomez
failing to take advantage of Neven Subotics poor clearance and Mats Hummels
blocking Philipp Lahms shot on the line. Weidenfeller was unable to continue
after that, going off in the 34th to be taken to a hospital for his earlier
injury. “Hes got a bruised rib,” Klopp said. “He can celebrate and he has seven
weeks to recover. That will do.” Weidenfellers replacement, Mitchell Langerak,
was called into action straight away, denying Gomez. Peter Gagelmann pointed to
the penalty spot again in the 41st when Jerome Boateng clearly fouled
Blaszczykowski and Hummels—a former Bayern player—put the spot kick just
beyond Neuers reach. Kagawa enhanced his reputation again when he played
Lewandowski through to squeeze his shot through Neuers legs, leaving the
Dortmund fans singing into the interval at 3-1 up. The start of the second half
was held up when flares sent smoke billowing around the 74,497-capacity Olympic
Stadium. Bayerns defence was nowhere to be seen when Kagawa found Kevin
Grosskreutz, the Dortmund winger playing the ball through Bastian
Schweinsteigers legs for Lewandowski to score his second. Franck Ribery scored
with a fantastic shot from outside the penalty area in the 75th, but Lewandowski
sealed Dortmunds victory six minutes later when Piszczek scooped the ball over
the stranded Neuer for his Poland teammate to head in at the far post. Germany
coach Joachim Loew will have been alarmed to see Bastian Schweinsteiger and
Hummels in a heated row near the end as Bayerns frustration threatened to boil
over. “We have to try and digest this loss as quickly as possible,” Heynckes
said. “Next week we have another objective.” Haloti Ngata Youth Jersey .Detroit manager
Jim Leyland knew pregame that Valderde would not be available, so he turned to
veteran Octavio Dotel on Monday night with a 2-0 lead in the ninth inning. Michael Oher Jersey . ”We started to get
sloppy,” said Drew Doughty of the 4-0 victory. “And he made sure to give it to
us and tell us we cant be playing like this because you cant take your foot off
the gas. http://www.shopthebaltimoreravens.com/ray-rice-jerseys
. According to Yahoo! Sports, Adrian Gonzalez and Dustin Pedroia were “the most
vocal” at a July 27 meeting in New York. Asked about the meeting, Valentine said
Tuesday, “Im glad July is over because they are still playing for me. Terrell Suggs Youth Jersey . With
Ryan Dempster and Paul Maholm now pitching for other teams, Jeff Samardzija is
the leader in the clubhouse with just seven victories—a number that didnt
change after his 6-1 defeat against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night. Terrell Suggs Elite Jersey . LOUIS —In his
30th game since returning from a concussion that sidelined him for more than a
year, David Perron appears to be hitting his stride. LOS ANGELES —Although the
Southern California sun stayed behind the clouds, everything else about the Los
Angeles Dodgers introductory news conference for their new ownership group
Wednesday signalled the dawn of a bright new era for a beloved franchise. Magic
Johnson, Mark Walter and Stan Kasten stood on a stage in centre field at Dodger
Stadium on what venerable broadcaster Vin Scully called “a soft day,” pulling on
white jerseys and blue Dodgers caps for the clubs third ownership change since
1998. The new owners vowed to restore the Dodgers dignity after Frank McCourts
often-stormy and sometimes sleazy tenure. While outlining a long-term vision,
they also offered an immediate carrot for their long-suffering fans: a $5
reduction in the $15 parking charges at the stadium. “What we want to do is
bring the pride back to this city and this organization,” said Johnson, his
voice echoing off thousands of empty seats in the iconic stadium. “Its going to
take some time to get this franchise back to where Mr. OMalley had it, but were
going to work, and were going to do it. Were committed for the long haul. Were
going to be owners for a long time.” The new owners are aware their franchises
prestige and fan support declined under McCourt, who sold the Dodgers for $2
billion to the group fronted by Johnson, headed by Walter and run by Kasten.
Although they made the playoffs four times in McCourts eight years, the Dodgers
havent won the World Series since 1988, before the OMalley familys sale of the
club sent it into an increasingly unsettling series of ownership changes.
Johnson, the former Lakers star, announced the parking changes along with extra
access to batting practice and other future incentives for fans. The group is
investigation a renovation to the notoriously cramped clubhouses, and Kasten
plans to investigate Dodger Stadiums infamously epic lines for beer and
refreshments. Johnson and Walter also answered numerous questions about the
peripheral involvement of McCourt, who is widely reviled by Dodgers fans for his
seemingly profligate lifestyle at the clubs expense before putting the club into
bankruptcy last June. Walter confirmed McCourt still has an interest in
potential future profits from development of the 300 acres in Chavez Ravine. But
Walter claimed all revenues from the parking lots surrounding Dodger Stadium go
to the team, and all decisions on future development will be made by the current
ownership group, which also includes movie mogul and Golden State Warriors
part-owner Peter Guber. “Frank McCourt is not involved in any shape and
fashion,” Johnson said. “Frank is not here. Hes not a part of the Dodgers any
more. We should be clapping just for that.” Walter also didnt flinch when asked
about the enormous price his group paid for the Dodgers, the highest ever paid
for a pro sports franchise and $500 million higher than the next bid. Walter
acknowledges he has been asked by friends and partners why he paid so much. “I
always say, why did the price get so high? Its the Dodgers,” said Walter, who
acknowledged being nervous during a brief speech off cue cards on the stage. “I
viewed it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own one of the most successful
franchises in sports. I believe if we build the franchise from the long point of
view, the value of the investment will be apparent. This is a generational
investment.” The Dodggers themselves have already done much to restore the pride
cited by their new owners, getting off to a first-place start in the NL West
with a strong opening month while the ownership deal was finalized. Anquan Boldin Jersey. The Dodgers are an
exceptionally attractive property to Walter and Kasten for several reasons:
Along with a brand recognized worldwide and a well-preserved stadium in the
hills between downtown and Hollywood, the Dodgers also have NL Cy Young Award
winner Clayton Kershaw and slugger Matt Kemp. Kasten, the former president of
the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals, gave a strong vote of confidence to
general manager Ned Collettis work so far, with Kasten saying he expects the
Dodgers payroll “moving forward will be north of where it is now.” “You can
expect us to be aggressive,” said Kasten, wearing his Braves 1995 World Series
championship ring. “Were going to be in on everything, but it has to fit for us.
I certainly want to help Ned build on that. Were going to take advantage of any
opportunity. Were not going to wait. If we can win now, today, thats our
preference.” Kasten and Johnson vowed to be near-daily presences at Dodger
Stadium. Johnson doesnt plan to weigh in on personnel moves, but his business
acumen, charisma and enormous popularity in Los Angeles will be assets. “I wrote
a big check, so Im going to be involved on a daily basis,” Johnson said. “Im a
big control freak. ... Were going to outwork everybody. I cant wait until my
office is done. Im going to check in on Monday.” Kasten promised to be visible
and available to fans on the concourses in the same way he ran the Braves, Hawks
and Thrashers in his previous multi-tiered job in Atlanta. “Im just coming off a
six-month gag order, so Ive got a lot to say,” Kasten said. Walter is the
Dodgers new chairman and the biggest money man in the deal. The son of a
concrete-block factory worker from outside Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Walter runs the
financial services firm Guggenheim Partners, which made another fortune buying
distressed assets in the recent economic downturn, from his home in Chicago. But
Walter will be getting comfortable in Los Angeles: He already spends one week a
month in the area, where his wife graduated from high school, and he plans to
buy a residence in the area soon. “This is not really about us,” Walter said.
“This is about the Dodgers, one of the most honoured and storied franchises in
history. Were passionate about making this organization the best it can be in
every respect.” Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was the first speaker. Dodgers greats
Don Newcombe, Tommy Davis, Maury Wills, Ron Cey, Bill Russell, Steve Garvey and
Tommy Lasorda gathered for the announcement, most gamely donning Dodgers jerseys
for photographs with the new owners—including the 6-foot-9 Magic in his size
56 jersey. The 84-year-old Scully closed the celebration in his own inimitable
style by remembering back to the first time the Dodgers changed leadership
during his tenure with the club, when Walter OMalley took a controlling stake
from Branch Rickey in Brooklyn in 1950, right after Scully went to work for the
club. Scully then cited multiple changes since, including all four changes or
minority sales in the past 14 years. “Im fed up,” Scully said. “This is the last
new ownership press conference I will ever attend.” ’ ’ ’