Infos & Interessantes » reps and the timing down. It r

MILAN -- Italy coach Gian Piero Ventura has asked league officials to start the Serie A season earlier next year to ensure the Azzurri are better prepared for their key World Cup qualifier against Spain.Spain tops Group G, above Italy on goal difference after four games. The two drew 1-1 in October in Turin and the return match is scheduled for Sept. 2. Only group winners qualify directly for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.This years Serie A campaign began Aug. 20.Were a bit set in our ways, but everyone else starts August 13, Ventura said. Its in the national interest to play on level terms. Ive already asked to play at least two more league matches. In a moment of madness I asked for three, but they told me to check myself into hospital.Italy lost an international friendly 3-1 to France in Venturas first match in charge in September, just two matches into the league season.This year we had very little Serie A before playing France and we paid the price, Ventura added. I hadnt even talked to any players until 48 hours before the match ...We lost 3-1 and it was labeled a disaster because thats the culture that we have here.Ventura, who was speaking at a press conference in Milan ahead of Tuesdays friendly against Germany, says league officials are mulling it over.I know it will be difficult, said the former Torino coach. But you have to change things by 360 degrees or youll go forward in dribs and drabs. In order to achieve great things you have to create the prerequisites.The league campaign in France and England started on Aug. 13 this year, while the Spanish season got underway the following week, on the same day as the Italian one.The German Bundesliga started a week after that. Anfernee Simons Blazers Jersey .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner. Bill Walton Jersey . Carey Price didnt, but he still came out on top against one of his rivals for the No. 1 job at the Sochi Games. The Anahim Lake, B.C., native was stellar in making 39 saves in his home province and Lars Eller got credit for a bizarre short-handed winner as the Canadiens defeated the Canucks 4-1. http://www.blazersteamofficial.com/Cj-Mccollum-Blazers-Jersey/ . With his new coach and six-time Grand Slam singles champion Boris Becker watching him during an official match for the first time, Djokovic appeared tentative early against the Slovakian player, who often appeared content to keep the ball in play. Damian Lillard Blazers Jersey . Aduriz headed home Markel Susaetas cross in the sixth minute to open the scoring at San Mames Stadium. He bettered that with a long-range blast that went in off the goal frame in the 18th, and converted a penalty in the 72nd after Diego Mainz was sent off for fouling Aduriz with only the goalkeeper to beat. Brandon Roy Blazers Jersey . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros. AMES, Iowa -- Even as the losses mount at Iowa State, Allen Lazards numbers keep climbing.The junior wide receiver was the No. 1 recruit during the seven-year tenure of former coach Paul Rhoads, and hes living up to the billing for first-year coach Matt Campbell.The Cyclones might be 1-8, but its certainly not because Lazard has failed at his job.If you came to practice and watched the last three weeks of practice -- Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday -- Allen is as locked in as anybody on our football team, Campbell said Monday. Thats what I want for Allen because in my humble opinion, I think Allen has a chance to be one of the best players in college football.Lazard is entirely comfortable hearing that from his coach because the standout from suburban Des Moines wants the same thing.I think very highly of myself, he said. I think I still have a lot of room to grow. I havent reached my full potential this year, I dont think, but I think I can do a lot of special things out there.He already has.Lazard leads the team in receiving (48 catches), yards (658) and touchdown catches (five) and is steadily climbing the schools career records list. He has caught a pass in all 32 games he has played and now ranks fifth in career receptions (145) and TD catches (14) and third in receiving yards (2,059).If he stays another year -- and he says he will -- Lazard almost assuredly would pass Todd Blythe (176) as the career receptions leader and would have a shot at Blythes 3,096 receiving yards. Blythes 31 career TD receptions would be out of reach without a monster, injury-free senior season, but who knows?He keeps getting better separation from defensive backs. At 6-feet-5 and 223 pounds, he has always been an enticing target.Hes one of those guys that in any situation, you can throw him the ball, quarterback Joel Lanning said. If hes double-covered or whatever, if you justt give him a chance to catch it, hes more than likely going to catch it.dddddddddddd Hes one of those guys that just wants the ball all the time.A toe injury slowed Lazard at midseason and his performance suffered. He couldnt plant and drive off on that foot and during one three-game stretch, he managed only nine catches for 88 yards. His longest play in that time covered a mere 17 yards.It was hard just because I would sit there during practice and watch my teammates, he said. Thats probably the hardest part, knowing you cant go out there and practice because you physically cant. Then have to try to turn it on on Saturday and youre not really in shape at all and you really havent gotten the reps and the timing down. It really hurts you in that aspect.Then the injury healed and his production took off. His numbers for the last four games: 27 catches, 330 yards, three touchdowns.All of a sudden he gets a chance to catch his breath and get healthy, Campbell said. I think youre starting to see the byproduct. In critical situations, hes making those plays.Lazard has thrived despite working with a revolving door of quarterbacks. He has caught passes from four different quarterbacks in less than three full seasons and even hauled in a touchdown pass from a wide receiver on a trick play.They were all right-handed, so that helps, he said. Its not a different spin. I had a left-handed quarterback in high school. For the most part, its not really different, just the trajectory of the ball is a little bit different, especially on deep balls. The deep balls different just because some throw it flatter and harder and some just kind of throw it up there. Its something youve got to get used to, I guess.It would seem that he has adjusted quite well. ' ' '