in the match.Ireland wasted two penalty lineouts, firs

INDIANAPOLIS -- IndyCar drivers and owners have always considered Derrick Walker to be a beacon of leadership. Now hes switching to what Walker calls the "dark" side. The well-respected former team owner was hired Monday as IndyCars new head of competition, ending the worst-kept secret in Indianapolis. Speculation that the 68-year-old Scotsman would lead the competition department kicked into high gear last week when four-time series champ Dario Franchitti, also a Scot, said Walker had been hired. Turns out, it was all true. "I know Im not going to please everybody every day," Walker said. "There are going to be some days when some people will think Im a jerk and there will be some days where I probably will be a jerk. I just hope theres more good days than jerk days." Walker takes over May 27, the day after the Indianapolis 500 is scheduled to be run and what hell find is an organization still trying to close the popularity gap with NASCAR. Until then, he will continue to serve as general manager for Ed Carpenter Racing, the one-car team owned by Tony Georges stepson. Georges family owns Indianapolis Motor Speedway and George was the founder of the IndyCar Series. Walker said he would no longer represent Will Power or Simon Pagenaud, last years IndyCar rookie of the year, as a consultant though his team would continue to run on the American Le Mans Series this season. Its a whole new start for Walker, who is now talking about containing costs and improving safety -- issues that have become annual themes since the series was founded in 1996 -- while fans continue to urge officials to boost speeds. Walkers job is finding the balance between drivers concerns, fans wishes and team limits. The good news is that drivers and owners feel like they finally have someone from their side working in the series office. "He gives you exactly what you need from that side," said Josef Newgarden, who drives for Fisher -- the only woman to own an IndyCar team. "There are two equations there. Youve got to figure out how to please the fans and the outside world and youve got to please the inside world of the drivers and teams. I think Derrick is the perfect guy for those inside the wall because he knows how to run a race team, and I think hes able to bridge that gap between the fans and the race teams." Walker started his racing career as a chief mechanic and built his reputation by working with or for some of the biggest names in racing history -- Graham Hill, Rick Mears, Roger Penske, and Al and Bobby Unser. He eventually started his own team, winning six races and 16 poles in 19 seasons. He also was a trendsetter, helping Willy T. Ribbs became the first black driver to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 and later giving Sarah Fisher a foothold in the series. And after more than four decades in racing, hes ready for a change. Those who know him believe IndyCar picked the right guy. "Derrick has done a phenomenal job for ECR," Carpenter said, referring to his own team. "He really was the architect of our team and helped us establish a very strong foundation that will continue to lead to future successes. I am confident he will do an outstanding job at IndyCar. He will be an asset there that will help the race teams within the series." Walker has a much larger challenge looming. Despite having one its best seasons on the track, the television ratings continue to lag far behind those of NASCAR. Theres little Walker can do about the television contract. The more immediate concern is getting fans to the track. Outside of a handful of venues, the series has not been drawing big crowds, something Walker believes can change if the teams are able to limit expenses. "We need to reduce the inflationary aspect of it because owners dont just get (hit with) it, the fans get it because the costs get passed on to them in the form of ticket prices," Walker said. He does not pretend to know everything. Walker said he will spend the next few weeks pulling double duty -- working to keep Carpenters burgeoning race team near the front of the pack while trying to get initiated into the world of racing executive. Walker will report directly to Mark Miles, the chief executive of Hulman & Co. and the man who made the decision to hire him. Miles said race director Beaux Barfield, Brian Barnhart, the president of IndyCar operations and strategy, and Will Phillips, the series vice-president of technology, will all now report to Walker. "I have no doubt we will be more stitched together as a team," said Miles, who was previously in charge of Indys Super Bowl committee. "I think well be a higher performing team under his (Walkers) leadership." First, though, Walker must get comfortable in a job he never dreamed of taking until Miles offered. "I am going to the dark side," Walker said, drawing laughter. "There are a lot of good people at IndyCar that have been on that side of the fence a lot longer than me." Buffalo Bills Jerseys . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Andre Reed Jersey . -- Bryant McKinnie came out of his stance and lowered his shoulder into a practice squad player, causing a crisp thud to reverberate in the Miami Dolphins practice bubble. http://www.shoptheofficialbills.com/Elite-Doug-Flutie-Bills-Jersey/ . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. Jim Kelly Jersey . 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Ireland bossed territory and possession but failed to repeat their Chicago heroics as they lost 21-9 to an ill-disciplined New Zealand in Dublin.Joe Schmidts side failed to convert a host of half-chances to add to the historic 40-29 win they achieved over New Zealand in the United States a fortnight ago, letting the All Blacks off the hook at the Aviva Stadium.New Zealand had Aaron Smith and Malakai Fekitoa sin-binned while conceding 14 penalties but still managed to escape with the win.Centre Fekitoa plundered two tries to add to his yellow card, with world player of the year Beauden Barrett back on form to claim a score of his own.Ireland boasted 67 per cent possession and 70 per cent territory, but only wound up with three penalty goals to show for it.The All Blacks were stung by their first-ever defeat to Ireland at Soldier Field. While New Zealand are hardly back on form, they did sneak out of Dublin with the win.A furious Ireland side felt Barretts match-winning try came courtesy of a forward pass, leaving captain Rory Best stalking referee Jaco Peyper for a television match official (TMO) review that never came.New Zealand unleashed full fury from the outset, retaining their kick-off and hurtling into every skirmish.Murray miscued his grubber to undermine an excellent Ireland turnover, and the All Blacks pounced.Barretts skimmed crossfield blast dropped sweetly for Fekitoa, who stepped inside Murray and bundled home.The out-of-sorts Aaron Smith threw a wayward pass to hand Ireland a chance next though, then knocking on at a lineout to boost the hosts hand still further.Jamie Heaslip powered over counterpart Kieran Read, and Sean OBrien thundered for the whitewash. The Leinster man surely saw himself scoring - but somehow Barrett hauled him in to hold him off the ground.CJ Stander bullocked on from the scrum, but was again denied over the line. Ireland opted for pragmatism, with Sexton converting a penalty to trail 7-3.Ireland then lost Robbie Henshaw, wiped out unwittingly by Sam Cane as he spun in a tackle. Sexton was left incredulous that Cane was not hit with more punishment than a simple penalty.What? A penalty? But the players on the stretcher, Sexton told referee Jaco Peyper.Henshaw raised a thumbs-up to the crowd as he departed on a motorised cart, with Leinsters greenhorn Garry Ringrose forced into the number 12 slot for just his second cap.Barrett chipped Irelands line, collected and fired off a no-look pass - but Andrew Trimble read it, and so nearly intercepted for what would have been a canter home. The Ulster wings knock-on denied that attack, but New Zealand were shortly on the scoresheet again.ddddddddddddBarrett ghosted in off a scrum under worryingly little resistance, save Sextons last-gasp tackle that proved in vain. TMO Jon Mason responded in the affirmative when asked by Peyper Can you see grounding on the grass? when it appeared Sexton had rolled Barrett and stopped him dotting down.Scrum-half Aaron Smith then landed New Zealand in further hot water, conceding two quick penalties for offside and deservedly being sent to the sin-bin. Johnny Sexton pulled up with a hamstring injury and Paddy Jackson entered the fray, further disrupting Irelands backline.Ardie Savea replaced Sam Cane as the injuries piled up. Ireland wasted a gilt-edged platform with a cheap offside rolling a maul, then Jackson punted a penalty as the hosts had to settle for a three-point gain from the yellow card.CJ Stander bulldozed Fekitoa, but his night was quickly cut short due to a suspected concussion. The Munster star failed a head injury assessment (HIA) and did not return, with Josh Van der Flier into the action.Barrett was denied a second try when rightly judged to have knocked on in dislodging the ball from Jacksons grasp. And so the tie remained finely poised with New Zealand 14-6 ahead at the break.Fekitoa was sin-binned for a crude high tackle on Simon Zebo, leaving New Zealand down a man for the second time in the match.Ireland wasted two penalty lineouts, first from a cheap knock-on and then after Van der Flier forced an offload that simply was not on. OBrien blasted through Irelands line, Zebos grubber bamboozled the back-three and Rob Kearney swept in.Again New Zealand escaped without their try-line being breached though, as Kearney just could not send Donnacha Ryan home. Jackson fired over a penalty amid yet more Irish pressure, to leave New Zealand leading 14-9 on the hour.Finally Ireland were within one score - but then New Zealand turned it on. Fekitoa eased home thanks to Barretts fine inside-ball offload to TJ Perenara. Referee Peyper immediately awarded the try, much to Irelands fury. Replays suggested Barretts pass moved forward, but Peyper had few qualms in opting not to call on the TMO.Ireland captain Best took the hugely unusual step of approaching Peyper while Barrett lined up his conversion, breaking standard protocol of remaining behind the try-line. Theres too much at stake, said Best in asking for a referral before being waved away, as Peypers decision had to stand. ' ' '