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PHILADELPHIA —Eric Lindros stepped out of the dugout to a roar he hadnt heard
in Philadelphia in almost 12 years. Michael Turner Youth Jersey . Big E had his
standing O. Lindros pointed his stick toward nearly 49,000 fans and took his
long-overdue walk toward the infield ice to join his Flyers teammates. One of
the great players in a franchise loaded with them was back in the orange and
black. With a packed Philadelphia crowd standing and going wild in appreciation,
Lindros made a triumphant return to the city in a Philadelphia Flyers jersey, a
bitter parting more than a decade ago forgotten from the moment No. 88 hit the
ice for warmups. The red reserved for the Phillies at Citizens Bank park gave
way to 40,000 fans in Flyers orange—so many who paid just to see Lindros play
in the alumni showcase, a prelude to Mondays Winter Classic between the Flyers
and New York Rangers. Lindros assisted on the first goal of the game, connecting
with former Legion of Doom linemate John LeClair, to help the former Flyers beat
the old-time Rangers 3-1 Saturday. “It really felt special here,” Lindros said.
“Its nice to be back and heading out to restaurants and hearing the well wishes
around town. Im happy to be here and catch up with some people I havent seen in
a while.” Lindros last appearance for the Flyers was in May 2000 when he was
laid out by New Jerseys Scott Stevens in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference
finals. He would be traded 15 months later to the Rangers because of a nasty
falling out with former general manager Bobby Clarke. All was forgiven Saturday.
Lindros and Clarke, who won two Stanley Cups with the Flyers in the 1970s,
chatted and skated together during warmups. Clarke received a huge ovation from
the 45,808 fans who filled a reconfigured ballpark. Lindros also took a seat on
the bench during intermission with youth teams playing on an auxiliary rink. The
two Flyers greats—who led a triumphant final lap around the ice when the team
left the Spectrum in 1996—hadnt talked since the trade until this weekend.
“Its good. We talked this morning and everythings great,” Lindros said. Clarke,
still an adviser to the Flyers, stood by his comments that all ill will toward
Lindros evaporated the day of the New York trade. “Hes 38. He can make a
comeback,” Clarke said, laughing. After Lindros, the loudest cheers were
reserved for goalie Bernie Parent. “Bernie! Bernie! Bernie!” echoed throughout
the park for the affable goalie, who sparked the phrase in the 70s, “Only The
Lord Saves More Than Bernie Parent.” Parent played five minutes 32 seconds and
stopped all six shots. Each save made the “Bernie!” chants return. “I felt the
pressure,” Parent said. “Once you get on the ice, you want to perform, you want
to do well in front of your fans.” Shjon Podein and Mark Howe also scored for
the Flyers and Pat Quinn was behind the bench. Flyers founder and chairman Ed
Snider dropped the puck for the ceremonial faceoff between honorary captains
Clarke and Mark Messier. Messier, Brian Leetch, Adam Graves and Stephane Matteau
were among the former Rangers who returned for this reunion, also having won the
franchises last Stanley Cup in 1994. Mike Keenan coached the Rangers. “These
were successful players who had successful runs,” Keenan said. Glenn Anderson
scored in the second period for the Rangers. “Once you get to a certain age and
have bypassed your prime, theres a lot of mistakes and its pretty funny to
watch,” Anderson said. Wins and goals hardly mattered Saturday. This was all
about Lindros homecoming. Lindros and the Flyers had been estranged since their
breakup more than a decade ago. Lindros won a Hart Trophy as NHL MVP, made six
all-star teams, and led the Flyers to the Stanley Cup finals in 1997. His career
was shortened by a series of concussions, and clashes with management paved his
way out of town. From the moment No. 88 peeked out of the Phillies dugout, the
crowd stood and started cheering. The fans went wild when Lindros took the long
walk to the infield rink that stretched from first base to third base. He raised
his arms in triumph and broke into a wide smile after his feed to LeClair put
the Flyers up 1-0. LeClair, Lindros and winger Mikael Renberg comprised the
popular and productive Legion of Doom line in the 1990s that helped the Flyers
out of their darkest era in franchise history and into the finals. The game
served as opening act for a weeks worth of games. High school, college and minor
league teams will play at Citizens Bank Park and theres an open skate for fans.
Saturdays start time was pushed back two hours to 3 p.m. for more ideal
temperatures for the outdoor game. The NHL expects Mondays game to start at its
scheduled 1 p.m. time. “We have a pretty big window to get the game in,” said
NHL chief operating officer John Collins. Collins addressed other topics on the
future of the Winter Classic:—The NHL isnt likely to stretch much beyond the
Midwest for future Winter Classics because it likes the 1 p.m. ET window on Jan.
1 or 2. —The NHL has considered Citi Field, MetLife Stadium, the Yale Bowl, and
even West Point as potential sites in New York/New Jersey. Detroit is in the mix
as potential future site. —The NHL and HBO have not yet talked about a “24/7”
going forward for 2012. —Canadian teams could become part of the Classic.
—Collins on the Jan. 1 day off: “Its not ideal that we have this dead day
tomorrow. But its kind of nice in that it stretches the event over a couple of
days and I think there are more fans who have the ability to come out and touch
it and feel it.” Tony Gonzalez Youth Jersey . —Tri-Citys
Brendan Shinnimin has scored a lot of goals this season, but none bigger than
the game-winner Wednesday night in Game 7 against the Spokane Chiefs. Sean Weatherspoon Jersey . The prize souvenir
from the 1986 World Series will go on eBay this month with a US$1-million price
tag, put up for auction by the Grammy-nominated songwriter who once bought it
from actor Charlie Sheen. http://www.officialatlantafalconsgear.com/todd-mcclure-jerseys
. A day after dropping a throw at second base that helped extend the seventh
inning in a loss to Seattle, Andino homered in the top of the ninth to give the
Orioles a 5-4 win Tuesday over the Mariners. Matt Bosher Womens Jersey . Debonair,
intellectual, high society landed Andres Villa-Boras blends quite magnificently
into and amongst the private cul-de-sacs, immaculately manicured Victorian era
garden squares, Royal Residencies and certain globally renowned iconic roads
that neighbor Stamford Bridge within the wonderfully monikered Royal Borough of
Kensington and Chelsea the club resides in. Londons most expensive real estate
district where the likes of Frank Lampard and his low profile ultra-sleek black
Ferrari call home is a perfect backdrop for the man who took over the reins from
the double winning Ancelotti is failing miserably in his attempts to win over
the primates that are Chelseas highly diversified supporter base. Roddy White Jersey . Gordon hit two of Kansas
Citys four home runs, Luis Mendoza took a shutout into the seventh inning and
the Royals beat the Baltimore Orioles 7-3 Saturday night after the start of the
game was delayed by rain for more than three hours.PHILADELPHIA—
Michael Schwimer wanted to jump into the stands to celebrate. He settled for an
animated fist-pump instead. Ty Wigginton and Carlos Ruiz homered to back
Vance Worley and the Philadelphia Phillies held on for a 5-4 victory over the
Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night. Worley (4-4) allowed three runs and six
hits in six-plus innings. Schwimer pitched out of a jam in the seventh,
Antonio Bastardo worked the eighth and Jonathan Papelbon finished for his 18th
save in 19 tries. Papelbon allowed a solo homer to Michael McKenry in the ninth.
Schwimer came in with runners on second and third, no outs and the Phillies
clinging to a 4-3 lead. He retired Jose Tabata on a sharp bouncer to the mound.
Then Neil Walker lofted a fly ball to shallow left and John Mayberry Jr. nailed
McKenry trying to score with a perfect one-hop throw to the plate. “I was trying
to stop myself from jumping in the crowd,” Schwimer said. “Im an emotional
person. You have to be who you are. My plan of attack was just to execute
pitches and go from there. Those are situations I love. Ive gotten in trouble in
the past by getting too excited. Ive learned to channel that.” Ruiz hammered an
0-2 pitch to deep left for his career-best 10th homer to give the Phillies an
insurance run in the eighth. Ruiz, a career .265 hitter coming into the year,
leads the majors with a .361 average after his 10th three-hit game. Pirates
starter Erik Bedard (4-8) gave up four runs and eight hits in six innings.
Pittsburgh came in with the best record in the NL since May 25 at 18-10. “There
were some good things going on,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “Hes
probably like the changeup back to Wigginton, but he kept us in the game.” The
Phillies have won two straight to climb out of last place, and the five-time
defending NL East champions could have some help on the way. Chase Utley was 2
for 5 with a homer in a game for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The five-time All-Star
second baseman could make his season debut on Wednesday. He has missed the first
three months because of chronic knee problems. Meanwhile, former NL MVP
Ryan Howard will start a rehab stint at Class A Lakewood on Thursday if all goes
well with an examination on his left Achilles in Philadelphia on Wednesday.. Tony Gonzalez Jersey. Trailing 4-2 in the
seventh, the Pirates rallied against Worley. Clint Barmes walked and McKenry
singled. Pinch-hitter Drew Sutton followed with an RBI double down the
left-field line. But Schwimer entered and closed the door. “He got out of a
tough jam,” manager Charlie Manuel said. “The more you succeed and leave that
game on a positive, that helps your confidence.” The Pirates squandered another
opportunity to tie it in the eighth after Andrew McCutchen led off with a double
off Bastardo. Josh Harrison, pinch-hitting for cleanup hitter Garrett Jones,
popped up a bunt that Ruiz ran down. Casey McGehee popped out and Pedro Alvarez
struck out. Wigginton gave Philadelphia a 4-1 lead in the third when he hit a
two-run shot to left-centre with two outs. McGehees two-out RBI single in the
sixth got the Pirates within 4-2. McCutchen doubled and scored on the hit. The
Phillies took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI single by Ruiz. Hunter Pence hit
a triple off the scoreboard in right-centre with two outs. Ruiz then hit a hard
grounder to left on an 0-2 pitch. Alvarez led off the second with a double,
advanced to third on a grounder and scored on McKenrys sacrifice fly to tie it.
Placido Polancos two-out RBI single to left put the Phillies ahead 2-1 in the
bottom half. Worley escaped a first-and-second, no-out jam in the first, helping
himself with an excellent defensive play. Worley charged off the mound, fielded
Jones slow roller and flipped the ball with his glove to Ruiz to retire Tabata
trying to score. Notes: Phillies C Brian Schneider had an MRI that revealed a
high ankle sprain. Hell miss three to five weeks. ... Sutton joined the Pirates
earlier in the day after being claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay on Sunday. LHP
Doug Slaten was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis to make room on the roster.
The Pirates also called up C Eric Fryer and optioned INF Matt Hague. ... Alvarez
is 8 for 18 with four homers and nine RBIs in last three four road games. ...
Worley has a 2.70 ERA in five starts since returning from an elbow injury. ...
The Phillies have sold out 259 straight games, including post-season. ...
James McDonald (6-3, 2.19) starts for the Pirates on Wednesday against an
undetermined starter for Philadelphia. ’ ’ ’