Steelers corbeaux veulent venger, Jets de regarder pour aller haut (Reuters)

(Reuters) - the Pittsburgh Steelers are out of vengeance against the Baltimore Ravens in their AFC divisional North confrontation Sunday packed with intriguing match-ups in the National Football League.

The season is at the stage to Midway and any good that defence beats in Pittsburgh, the week of nine highlights include the shock of the CFA is between the Buffalo Bills and the Jets and New York and only undefeated team in the League, the Green Bay Packers, the San Diego Chargers.

But it is always fierce rivalry between the Steelers (6-2) and the Ravens (5-2), to provide, with the compulsive view of Pittsburgh, looking to their week to avenge a 35-7 loss to Baltimore.

"It is one of these games than players who you really want to be part of,", said the Steelers Hines Ward receptor.

"It seems that it always ends by once and for us, they our tails the first time we have now a chance to recover some of the cream whipped - and hopefully get to the North of the AFC,"added Ward."."

Both teams come into play on the back of morale boosting WINS, the Ravens overcame a 21-point deficit to beat the Arizona Cardinals 30-27 in the greatest return in the history of the franchise.

Pittsburgh has relaunched their credentials for the playoffs by beating the New England quaterback 25-17 with Ben Roethlisberger throwing for 365 yards and two touchdowns.

Lead Steelers a series of 18 victories for 13 Ravens Joe Flacco quaterback and hope that is also precarious, as it was before the return against Arizona.

Defend the return of Super Bowl champions won the Green Bay of the bye-week looking to extend their franchise-record 16 straight.

BACK IN CALIFORNIA

Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers led to their best start since 1962 and he stands at the top of the ranking of NFL quarterback with 20 touchdowns and the unprecedented 71.5% completion percentage.

The match against a team of San Diego, returning from three games on the road, the brand Chargers a first start of the NFL in California for a Rodgers who was born in Chico, Northern California, played his University football at the University of California and now his off-season home in the South of the State.

"It's always nice to return to California." It is fun to play in San Diego, you have a large field, a nice fast track and it will be nice to see some friends and family, "he said.

The Jets (4-3) can move forward in the AFC is if they can manage the Bills (5-2) that are linked at the top of the Division with the New England Patriots.

New York has also comes back fresh to a pass, but won their last two trips, while the annual accounts of Buffalo beat Washington 23-0 in a match in Toronto.

"We know we have the right of the opportunity for us, try to win our Division and we have." "We understand that and we will be ready," said Jets Rex Ryan head coach.

"Our guys are cool but mentally we must be sharp and focused and understand that it will be a physical game," said.

The New Orleans Saints, upset defeat suffered by the Rams in St - Louis, last week, have a difficult test against rivals of the Tampa Division.

Tampa beat the Saints 26-20 in Florida last month and New Orleans desperately need improve their start of the season 5-3.

"It was a bit of back and forth." But we know the standard, we know how we can, and now it is a matter of no excuse, "said quarterback for Drew Brees."

(Edit by Julian Linden)

Marquez seeks vindication from third fight with Pacquiao (Reuters)

(Reuters) – Vindication is the buzzword for Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez as he prepares for the concluding chapter in his trilogy of bouts with Manny Pacquiao next week.

On November 12, the two fighters will step into the ring at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas where Pacquiao's WBO welterweight title will be on the line, along with final bragging rights from their encounters.

The boxers have met twice before, fighting to a draw in May 2004 before Marquez lost his WBC super-featherweight title to the Filipino in a controversial split decision in March 2008. On both occasions, though, Marquez felt he had triumphed.

"Now it's time to shed doubt over who the best fighter is," Marquez said on a conference call Wednesday while wrapping up his training camp in Mexico. "I want to win this fight because I believe I won the first two fights.

"We are not the only ones saying that we won those first two fights. A lot of people out there, a lot of fans and a lot of the media, agree. So we will be ready and prepared."

Marquez gave southpaw Pacquiao extra motivation for the fight by wearing a T-shirt bearing the legend: "We Were Robbed" when their November 12 showdown was promoted recently in the Philippines.

While Pacquiao claims he was insulted by that fashion statement, Marquez believes he has just as much incentive for their third and final meeting.

"It is personal for me too," said the 38-year-old Mexican, who has a career record of 53-5-1 with 39 knockouts said. "If he is upset about me saying that I won the first two fights, I am upset that I haven't got the decisions.

"I am just as motivated as he is. We all have our opinions. That's his opinion and my opinion is that I didn't get the decisions that I deserved. I think this fight is going to be great because we both want it so bad."

Marquez, a three-division world champion, is in the twilight of his glittering career and will go into next week's bout as a 9-1 underdog against one of the best offensive fighters of all time.

ODDS MEANINGLESS FOR MARQUEZ

"(Odds) don't do anything for me," said the Mexican, who recovered from three knockdowns in the opening round to earn a draw when they first clashed in May 2004.

"People can bet what they want, people can put the odds how they want them. If they like the 9-1 odds, that's fine with me. It has nothing to do with the fight.

"I am just going in with the mentality that I have to win the rounds. If the opportunity comes, if I hurt him, then I will go for the knockout. I am not going to hesitate if the opportunity is there to go for it."

Pacquiao, who has won world titles in an unprecedented eight weight divisions, has become a far superior fighter to the somewhat raw, all-action Filipino who faced Marquez in 2004 and 2008.

"Pacquiao has definitely become a better technical fighter than he was," said Marquez's trainer Ignacio "Nacho" Beristain. "He has become a more complete boxer.

"His punches are now more clinical, he is not as wild as he used to be. He looks like he knows what he is doing and that's directly the effect that Freddie Roach, his trainer, has had. He has learned a lot of techniques and a lot of new things and he is doing them better, especially the right hook."

Beristain knows Marquez can no longer simply focus on the Filipino's lethal left hand.

"When we fought the first couple of times, his (Pacquiao's) left hand was always the big one, the one we had to worry about, the one that we tried to nullify," Beristain said.

"We see that he has a better right hand now. I think you just go up into the ring with the mentality that you must be ready for both, stay focused on what you need to do.

"We have always won the 'comeback zone', as I like to call it. It's important that we do it again but we know it's not going to be easy. We have to be smart enough to know how to do it and when to do it. That's what Juan is capable of doing."

(Editing by Julian Linden)

Anti-trust gambit could hold key to ending NBA lockout (Reuters)

(Reuters) – National Basketball Association (NBA) owners have launched a "pre-emptive strike" by commencing legal action they hope will end the labor dispute, an anti-trust lawyer said.

With negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement stalled, the NBA this week launched an anti-trust lawsuit against itself, asking the U.S. Second District Court to decide if the lockout was legal under anti-trust laws.

The players' lawyers responded by asking the court to throw out the case because the union has yet to decertify and bring any action against owners.

Michael Keeley, an anti-trust and litigation lawyer for Axinn, Veltrop and Harkrider, told Reuters the owner's actions were designed so they could pick the time, the place and the court for the key legal battles ahead.

"It is a pre-emptive strike," Keeley said.

"They are saying, "I know you are going to hit me with this anti-trust lawsuit and I want to pick the court and the time.

"It's like I sued you over the possibility you might crash your car into my house. You haven't crashed your car into my house so there is no case to hear yet.

"But there is law that, even when there is a dispute that has not happened yet, gives a court jurisdiction to hear a case."

By seizing the initiative, the NBA may have gained home field advantage by filing their lawsuit in the Second District Court, which Keeley says, has traditionally been favorable to the ownership side on issues.

"The threat of decertification and a lawsuit by the players gives them some degree of leverage," said Keeley. "The owners are trying to defuse that by bringing their own lawsuit.

"They are sort of lancing a boil."

The NBA contends the players association has been using the threat of decertification and anti-trust lawsuits as leverage in negotiations and the owners are keen to remove that threat.

Keeley believes the NBA players association is approaching the anti-trust option with caution having watched the National Football League (NFL) survive a similar challenge during collective bargaining negotiations earlier this year.

Shortly after the NFL lockout began the union decertified and players launched individual lawsuits against the league.

The case was initially supported by the district court but then unsuccessful before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Once the Eighth Circuit sided with the league, the parties returned to the table and struck a deal.

"One might assume it was because they (NBAPA) saw what happened with the NFL players that they thought it was more valuable to have the threat of decertifying and bringing a lawsuit rather than actually suing," explained Keeley. "The (Second District Court) judge is deciding should this case be confronted right now or is it premature.

"He could say, I'm tossing this out, come back to me when the players decertify.

"But if he rules I'm willing to hear the case then you have basically an anti-trust lawsuit like you had in Minnesota with the NFL."

While the legal wrangling may seem tedious to fans, a decision by the courts may be the quickest way to getting players back on the courts.

"This is all designed to give one side more or less leverage over the commercial negotiations," said Keeley. "If you are a basketball fan the hope is that this gets resolved by the courts because you look at the NFL case.

"As soon as the court ruled one way or another, the parties got together and they struck a deal.

"The NFL players had built their whole strategy around getting this (anti-trust) lawsuit and when they lost it was time to come to the table."

(Writing by Steve Keating in Toronto, editing by Julian Linden)

UFC set for Macau, Singapore amid Asia expansion (Reuters)

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (Reuters) – The Ultimate Fighting Championship comes crashing into the homes of mainstream America next week when its TV network deal kicks into life and, while U.S. revenues remain the UFC's lifeblood, CEO Lorenzo Fertitta is banking on global growth to secure the long-term future of the organization.

In an interview at the UFC's headquarters in Las Vegas, Fertitta told Reuters that the mixed martial arts titan would be heading to Macau in China next year and Singapore in 2013 as it bids to build its brand across Asia.

"We've really been doing a lot of work in China and that's going to be a longer-term investment but we are going to dip our toe in the water with an event in Macau," said Fertitta, who with his brother Frank co-owns the Las Vegas-based Station Casinos.

"It's just a matter of finding the right date that works with our television deals around the world. That should be happening in 2012.

"Singapore is another market that we have been focusing on. We know it's a growing market .... so a UFC event there probably in 2013," he said, adding that the Marina Bay Sands casino-resort was being eyed as the venue.

Once banished to broadcasting backwaters, the UFC now beams to more than 130 countries worldwide, while the seven-year multi-media deal with Fox signed in August will net it between $90-100 million in rights annually.

Fox will air the heavyweight title clash between champion Cain Velasquez and Brazil's Junior dos Santos on November 12 as its first live event under the agreement.

Crucially, the landmark deal represents an opportunity for the UFC to show the 'extreme makeover' it has undergone since the Fertitta brothers bought the struggling company for $2 million in 2001.

For some, mixed martial arts still evokes negative images of bloodlust and unfettered violence thanks to the early events, which the previous owners had marketed as more spectacle than sport, said Fertitta.

"Tune in to see someone get hurt" was how he described their approach. Several U.S. states, including New York, still refuse to sanction MMA.

"When we bought the UFC in 2001 it was basically a broken business, on the verge of going away," he said. "It was probably one of the most tainted brands out there and when we bought the company all of our advisers thought we were crazy.

"But while it was tarnished, there was still a broad awareness of what the UFC was and we thought it was still a very valuable brand."

CHINESE CHAMPION?

Ten years on, the belief shown in the UFC by the Fertittas and its effusive president Dana White appears to have been justified.

"When we started the company back in 2001 we had four employees. Now we have close to 300 in offices in Las Vegas, Toronto, Beijing and London and we're looking to add offices in Sao Paolo and potentially Mumbai over the next year," said Fertitta.

"We were doing 30,000-40,000 pay per views annually when we bought the UFC, now we're the biggest PPV provider in the world, we'll do around closer to seven million now.

"So obviously the business has grown exponentially."

While Fertitta rates the 55,000-sellout at Toronto's Rogers Center and their Rio de Janeiro debut this year as the UFC's most successful international events, he said Asia had the potential to deliver similar success.

"Our goal is to have revenues split 50-50 between North America and the rest of the world in the next five years," he said. "We have explosive growth in Brazil, and that has now become our number three market, but we are looking to Asia to have that same explosive growth."

Cracking China's complicated market could prove difficult, despite the country's long history of martial arts.

However, China's interest in the NBA skyrocketed with the rise of Yao Ming and the UFC would undoubtedly get a shot in the arm if a Chinese fighter emerged to challenge for titles.

"In China I think that is going to be the spark that we need to move that market," said Fertitta, adding that the UFC was working to foster talent there.

"One of the things we're doing is bringing a handful of Chinese fighters over here for a month to train in Las Vegas, giving them access to the gyms and other resources here.

"Among a population of a billion people there's got to be someone that can fight," he added with a laugh. "And it's our job to find him."

(Editing by Nick Mulvenney)

Players damage of income League TV (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Reuters) - NFL players are seeking millions of dollars of damage as the League lost a federal trial over 4 billion in television revenues.

Players, in a file with a District Court of Minnesota this week, they say the money League "Links on the table in 2009 and 2010" should restore when the NFL negotiated new television contracts with its partners.

The amount has been deleted, but the word "million" has remained.

Judge David Doty, who planned to hold a hearing on May 12, held the month last as the NFL does step to maximize revenue when contracts television appointments.

He also said that the NFL its agreement with the players had been raped when negotiated television deals.

The players Union argued that the NFL designed the TV contracts to give the League a stockpile of cash $ 4 billion to help him with a lockout.

Asked about the last presentation, spokesman for the NFL Greg Aiello said Friday: "it is a part of the process in the case." Our response is due to April 21. »

Players also try to prevent the NFL take advantage of the TV contracts during the current lockout of the League.

"There is no amount of compensation that the damage resulting from unlawful lockout provisions can address," said players.

Although another court hearing April 6 on an application for an injunction against the lockout, "independent relief" presentation lock said Thursday.

Nine other players in the NFL, including the best quarterbacks Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, seeking an injunction against the lockout in a class action antitrust against the NFL and its owners.

The suit was filed after negotiations between the NFL and players labor Union broken last month and the Union, the NFL Players Association, revoked. NFL owners locked then the players, the season of 2011 at risk.

(Reported by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina);) (Edit by Frank pings)

Home run King Bautista get the Royal treatment (Reuters)

TORONTO (Reuters) - Toronto Blue Jays of fielder Jose Bautista was an unknown companion who could walk the streets without a second glance a year ago.

But the Blue Jays begin a new season against the Minnesota Twins Friday, Bautista was no longer a stranger, but one of the athletes more popular and the most recognizable of Toronto, the reigning Major League home run King and the face of the franchise.

"wow," smiled Bautista, such as the media locker are engulfed. "It is a little surreal, but most of the time, it has been for the better, not worse."

"I'm in a good place where I am wanted, where I want to so I am a happy man."

A club record and Major League best 54 homers earned Bautista fan support and a five year contract, 65 million with the Jays, slamming will be hoping that the age of 30 years of Dominican Republic is not one-season wonder.

Until last year was more plugger slugger Bautista, best known for his arm rifle that is booming, never more than 16 homeruns in one of its six previous seasons.

In 2004, he was the resolutely in a much less flattering category, most of the teams have played in a season.

He began the year with Baltimore, which had led in draft rule 5 waivers has been claimed by the Rays of Tampa Bay, which him later to the Royals in Kansas City sold.

Kansas City then transferred him to the Mets in New York who sent it to Pittsburgh, bringing his career full circle for the Pirates, the team which he drafted originally in 2000.

Three Bautista filled seasons in Pittsburgh, but it is that he was transferred to Toronto in 2008 that he finally obtained the Groove that all major league hitters.

As Tiger Woods, Bautista by a review of swing worked last season, changes and small tweaks produce a year of career, that no one saw coming.

"What I did last season seemed to work and I'll try to be consistent with my approach and the things that has allowed me to be successful, said Bautista.".

"I'll keep my realistic goals, I am not should take something special to do."

"I my success is not based on the number of homeruns I but I want to be productive, I would like to drive in runs."

The big question is whether it can follow and while nobody expects him to blistering performance last year that he will be taken into account to occur in the implementation of the weight and expectations that come with his new contract.

"Our expectations of Jose are the same they were a year ago and it is not a number of home runs hit,", said the Blue Jays first year manager John Farrell.

"It is his day preparation and this is what allowed him to be able to succeed."

"I think that it is one thing, that we are fortunate that Jose, it is a very intelligent player also so very talented.".

(Amended by Greg Stutchbury)

Cubs Garza of beams in multiplayer deal (Reuters)

CHICAGO (Reuters) - the Chicago Cubs acquired right-handed Matt Garza in a multiplayer trade with Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.

Garza, who was the first member of the jets to launch a hitter when he Tigers of Detroit last season, deleted, is the centerpiece of the eight player agreement also saw fielder Fernando Perez and left-handed pitcher Zachary Rosscup at Chicago.

Edited by Tampa are perspective right-handed Chris Archer, catcher Robinson Chirinos, player Hak - Ju Lee and Sam Fuld and Brandon Guyer outfielders.

"It is not every day a launcher of big game of Prime Minister and proven in his first becomes available, and we couldn't be happier Matt Garza add to our staff Launcher," General Cubs Manager Jim Hendry said.

"It is impossible to acquire a launcher of the calibre of Matt and does not give some quality talent and Tampa Bay Lightning acquires certainly solid prospects in this agreement.

"But Matt brings a huge arm to help strengthen rotation Launcher formidable, not only for 2011, but for years to come also.

Garza posted a record of the season last 15-10, with a 34-31 and 3.91 era in 95 games big league in the past three years, but is also a proven artist off-season.

The 27 - year - old right-handed earned American League Championship Series most valuable player honors in 2008, the rays world series.

(Written by Steve Keating in Indianapolis; editing by Steve Ginsburg)

Dolphins agreement new deal with coach Sparano (Reuters)

DAVIE, Florida (Reuters) - the Miami Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano awarded two-year contract extension Saturday him with the team until the end of the year 2013 will keep.

Dolphins have 7-9, the AFC East and missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year in coach.

After a week of media intense speculation about the future, owner of Ross Stephen Sparano whom he had met at Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh.

He refused however to Ross, who said that meeting caused Sparano "fear" that the dolphins work offered on Friday named the San Francisco 49ers coach Harbaugh at.

Ross, "never did that," told journalists. "We realized that we had Tony man."

Ross said he was "naive" could be the last week and added that he expected Harbaugh meeting who was generally regarded as the hottest property in University football, waves.

"I never thought it would be national news." I would probably let Tony knows. "It was a mistake on my part," says the owner.

"I did have not spoken with coach until I decided that I want to change."

A clear pain Sparano, periods of watch off with an expression sets Saturday pass, said it is difficult to keep track of its staff up to date with the events had been.

"I have a lot of responsibilities, I have approximately 16 coaches, their families, my own family and about 60 players," said.

Sparano said that after the news of Ross met Harbaugh, he turned off his phone during the night of waking up to approximately 30 messages text in support of its players and one of the owner that he kept his job.

The coach said that now is the time to implement a stronger team.

"I always say the players — when we here are not place us debt." This is not what we are trying to do. Solve us problems, "he said."

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)