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RENTON, Wash. Derek Newton Jersey . —Brian Banks will get
a crack at the NFL, even if its simply a tryout. The Seattle Seahawks confirmed
Wednesday they will hold a tryout for Banks, a former high school football star
who was exonerated last week in a California rape case in which he was falsely
accused. Seattle coach Pete Carroll did not speak following the Seahawks
off-season workout on Wednesday, but the team confirmed that Banks will work out
for the team on June 7. “This is what I have dreamed about my entire life,”
Banks said in a statement from the California Western School of Law, home of the
California Innocence Project. “I am ready to show the NFL what I am capable of
doing. I want as many opportunities with as many NFL teams who are willing to
give me a shot.” Seattle may not be the only team. The statement says a
half-dozen NFL teams have gotten in contact with Banks, and ESPN.com reported
some of those include the Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins and Miami
Dolphins. Banks attorney, Justin Brooks, head of the California Innocence
Project, could not be immediately reached for comment. The 26-year-old Banks
pleaded no contest 10 years ago on the advice of a lawyer after a childhood
friend falsely accused him of attacking her on their high school campus. Last
Thursday, a judge threw out the conviction that sent Banks to prison for more
than five years. Its not surprising Carroll and the Seahawks appear to be the
first ones willing to give Banks a shot. Before the charges, Banks was a star
middle linebacker at Long Beach Polytechnic High School and was attracting
interest from college football powerhouses such as USC, Ohio State and Michigan.
He gave a verbal commitment to USC to play for Carroll. Then, a teenage girl
Banks had known since childhood claimed he had raped her. He was arrested and,
on advice of counsel, pleaded no contest to rape and an enhancement of
kidnapping in order to avoid a possible life sentence if tried by a jury. Banks
served five years and two months in prison, but in a strange turn of events, the
woman, Wanetta Gibson, later recanted her claim and offered to help Banks clear
his name after he was out of jail. Banks was on probation and was wearing an
electronic monitoring bracelet at the hearing last week where he was completely
exonerated. At the press conferences that followed the court hearing, Brooks
appealed to NFL teams to give Banks a chance. He said Banks has been training
six days a week to get in shape for the career he wants. “He has the speed and
the strength. He certainly has the heart,” Brooks said. “I hope he gets the
attention of people in the sports world.” Garrett Graham Womens Jersey . Terms of the
multi-year contract were not disclosed Wednesday. The Pacers made a qualifying
offer to the six-foot-10 McRoberts last month, making him a restricted free
agent. Brice McCain Jersey . Romania performed well
on almost all apparatuses in the last subdivision, but did not deliver the
spectacular balance beam performances they are known for. Key beam specialists
Larisa Iordache and Catalina Ponor both had wobbles throughout their routines
and did not nail them as they were expected to. http://www.texansfanstore.com/chris-myers-jersey
. United manager Alex Ferguson has been scouting the 18-year-old Henriquez since
2008 and says the youngster “fits the profile of a United player—skilful,
attacking and someone who plays the game with real flair. Shayne Graham Womens Jersey . Lampard will
have a scan and be assessed by medics on Thursday before a decision is made
about whether the Chelsea player can remain in the 23-man squad, which has
already been submitted to UEFA. On Monday, central midfielder Gareth Barry was
ruled out of the tournament because of a stomach injury and replaced by Phil
Jagielka. Andre Johnson Womens Jersey . I wouldnt
necessarily say this is the deal that ends the saga for the Phoenix Coyotes; I
wouldnt say take it to the bank. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. —R.A. Dickey nearly gave
the New York Mets their second no-hitter in two weeks. Now that would have been
something—especially considering it took them more than 50 years to pitch
their first one. Dickey allowed only an infield single during his second career
one-hitter and broke the franchise record for consecutive scoreless innings in a
9-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night. The knuckleballer became
the first 10-game winner in the majors, set a career best with 12 strikeouts and
did not walk a batter. The only hit the Rays managed came when speedy B.J. Upton
hit a high bouncer in the first inning that third baseman David Wright was
unable to field with his bare hand. Mets manager Terry Collins said the team
would appeal the official scorers ruling on Uptons hit to the commissioners
office, but conceded it probably wouldnt change the result. “We said in the
ninth inning that weve got to appeal that play. Were probably not going to win
it, but … what the heck,” Collins said. “What have you got to lose except to
have somebody say no?” Johan Santana held St. Louis hitless on June 1, the first
no-hitter in the Mets 51-year history. Dickey was just as dominant Wednesday—
if not more so. ” If anybody deserved a no-hitter or a perfect game tonight, it
was him,” Collins said. Dickey (10-1) ran his career-best shutout streak to 32
2-3 innings before yielding an unearned run in the ninth. That topped the
previous club mark of 31 2-3 scoreless innings in a row set by Jerry Koosman in
1973. “I always try to be consistent. That means a lot to me, to be consistent
and trustworthy. And it makes me feel good that my team feels like theyve got a
chance to win every time out,” said Dickey, who also pitched a one-hitter
against Philadelphia at Citi Field on Aug. 13, 2010. “The streaks and the
special things that happen along the way are just the manifestation of that, of
wanting to be consistent and wanting to really be good at my craft. I still have
a passion for it. Im still looking for things to do with the knuckleball.” After
Uptons hit, the 37-year-old knuckleballer permitted only one other baserunner,
on a throwing error by Wright in the ninth. “Were two plays from a perfect
game,” Collins said. “Ive seen a lot of things. Ive not seen a perfecto. Today I
saw as close to that as Ive ever been around in my 42 years. Its amazing, just
truly amazing what hes done. To think two years ago this guy was the first guy
cut from this club to where hes at today, I absolutely salute the guy.” Dickey
outpitched AL wins leader David Price (8-4). In his last five outings, the
right-hander has struck out 50 and walked three. He is 8-0 in his past 10
starts. “Hes at a different level right now. Its amazing what hes been able to
do,” Wright said. “It just seems like each outing hes getting better and better.
Its fun to be a part of.” Besides the good fortune for Upton, Tampa Bay didnt
come close to getting another hit. In fact, the Rays only managed to hit five
balls out of the infield all night—three routine fly balls to centre field
and one each to left and right. “Did you notice he was tipping all of his
pitches?” Rays manager Joe Maddon joked. Shayne Graham Jersey. “Did you happen to pick
up on that? “We were just the latest victim. Hes done that to a lot of teams
more recently,” Maddon added. “Hes really good right now. He has this uncanny
ability to throw it around the strike zone for strikes. Hes a different cat. Hes
got a hot knuckleball.” Wright said he might have tried to use his glove to make
the play on Uptons grounder in the first if a slower runner had been trying to
beat out the hit. The third baseman said he didnt know if he should have been
charged with an error. “I tried to make the play. I didnt make it. Its as simple
as that,” Wright said. “I dont think I could have got him with the glove. I
tried to barehand it. It hit the lip and skipped on me, and I didnt make the
play. If they want to go back and give me an error, they can do that.” Dickey,
whose eight straight wins also are a career best, lost his shutout in the ninth.
Elliot Johnson reached on Wrights throwing error, then advanced to third on a
pair of passed balls by Mike Nickeas before scoring when Desmond Jennings
grounded out. “Mike is really upset about it, but he did a great job. Its not
easy to catch him,” Collins said. “He was apologizing profusely at the end of
the game,” Dickey said. “Its hard back there, especially when it was moving like
it was tonight. ... He had done a great job all night. Its just that last inning
that kind of got away from him a little bit, but he worked his tail off.”
Daniel Murphy and Omar Quintanilla drove in two runs apiece for the Mets.
Nickeas ended an 0-for-14 drought with an RBI single, and Vinny Rottino and
Ike Davis also drove in runs for New York, which has rebounded from being swept
by the Yankees in a weekend series to win two straight from Tampa Bay by a
combined score of 20-3. Wright capped a 14-hit outburst with a two-run double in
the ninth. Price, who is tied for the AL wins lead, allowed a season-high seven
runs on nine hits in five-plus innings. He walked three and struck out eight.
According to STATS LLC, the starting pitching matchup was only the second since
1921 to feature the AL and NL wins leaders during the regular season. The other
was Bostons Josh Beckett and San Diegos Jake Peavy on June 24, 2007. The Rays
said it has only happened three times in the last 50 World Series, with Atlantas
John Smoltz facing the Yankees Andy Pettitte in 1996, Torontos Jack Morris
facing Atlantas Tom Glavine in 1992 and the Dodgers Sandy Koufax going against
the Yankees Whitey Ford twice in 1963. NOTES: Collins was selected to serve as
one of the NL coaches for the All-Star game. ... Tampa Bays Ben Zobrist was out
of the lineup for the second straight night. The second baseman has a sore right
hand that was injured while sliding into second base at Miami on Sunday, but
Maddon said Zobrist did not play Tuesday night because he was ill. ... Rays DH
Luke Scott, who has not started the last seven games, is day to day with a stiff
back. ... Mets LF Jason Bay went 1 for 5 and is 1 for 21 since returning from a
long stint on the disabled list with a broken rib. ’ ’ ’