Rounds One and Two Conclude at Southland Bowling Championships
Advancers Bracket – Second Round An 856-774 traditional win was led by Kaitlyn Eder’s 201 and Sarah McComic’s 187 scores for Louisiana Tech, while a 927-875 victory in the baker total pinfall games pushed the Lady Techsters to a 2-1 match victory. First Round Match 3: No. 3 Sam Houston State vs. No. 6 ValparaisoThe Bearkats got all they could handle from the No. 6 Crusaders to open the match, falling 869-832 in the traditional game. Valpo was led by Kendra Tryniski (205) and Becky Lohse (180) while Stephanie Zavala (207) was the only bowler over 158 for SHSU in the opening game. Tournament Homepage | Bracket | Day 1 Scores| Live Stream ReplayDALLAS, Texas – The 2018 Southland Bowling League Championship got underway Friday morning with four opening round matches featuring all eight teams, followed by the second round of the winner’s bracket and first round of the elimination bracket. Day two begins tomorrow 8:30 a.m. CT with round three (matches 9-10), followed by round four (matches 11-12) at 1:30 p.m. and round five (match 13) at 5:30 p.m. Match 11 is the semifinal of the advancers bracket, the winner of which will earn a spot in Sunday’s championship game. Match 4: No. 2 Vanderbilt vs. No. 7 Louisiana TechVanderbilt began its dominant day with a 2-0 win over Louisiana Tech. In the traditional game, Samantha Gainor (223), Kristin Quah (222) and Kelsey Abrahamsen (209) all notched 200-plus games while Adel Wahner was just under with 196, leading the Commodores to a 1,024-908 win. In the ensuing baker best-of-seven, the Red Wolves left little doubt with a 4-1 win. They won three straight before dropping the fourth, sealing their advancement with a win in game five. Elimination BracketMatch 9: No. 3 Sam Houston State vs. No. 8 MonmouthMatch 10: No. 1 Arkansas State vs. No. 7 Louisiana TechMatch 13: Match 11 loser vs. Match 12 winner The script was flipped in the following baker total pinfall series as SFA put up a thousand-point performance of their own, tying the series at 1-1 with a 1,011-895 win. Match 6: No. 6 Valparaiso vs. No. 7 Louisiana TechThe Lady Techsters made sort work of the Crusaders in the first round of the elimination bracket, ensuring a spot in tomorrow’s second round against No. 1 Arkansas State. Again the two teams could not find much distance between one another. Tulane won the opening game before Monmouth jumped out to a 2-1 series lead. The Green Wave responded with two of their own to make it 3-2 before the Hawks tied it up 3-3 to force a game seven. Two open frames in the final game from Tulane were the difference makers as the Hawks edged out a 4-3 win and 2-1 match victory to advance to face No. 3 Sam Houston State. Sam Houston hit its stride in the baker total pinfall, winnng 959-792 to force a best-of-seven baker series, which the Bearkats comfortably swept 4-0. Match 5: No. 5 Tulane vs. No. 8 MonmouthThe first game of the elimination bracket was hotly contested between Tulane and Monmouth, as the Green Wave edged ahead just 411-396 after five frames. The Hawks remained close as Tulane held a 757-721 advantage heading into the final frame. Just a five-point cushion (842-837) remained as the anchor bowlers took their approach, and a nine-spare from Jackie Evans to open the 10th was enough to push Monmouth to victory, 865-862.
Tulane would earn a victory in the first game of the baker best-of-seven, but fall in four straight as Stephen F. Austin won the next four to take a 4-1 win and a 2-1 match win to advance. Elimination Bracket – First Round Day Two Matchups: Match 8: No. 2 Vanderbilt vs. No. 3 Sam Houston StateVanderbilt again racked up two high-scoring affairs to sweep the Bearkats in the second round of the advancers bracket. The Commodores were led by another impressive game from Quah (255), whose score was the highest of any competitor from any team on the day. Gainor and Maria Bulanova also tallied over 200, with 206 and 204, respectively, leading VU to a 1,018-838 traditional win. In the baker total pinfall games, Tulane carved out a more comfortable deficit for themselves and earned a 930-843 win to force a best-of-seven baker series. The baker total pinfall games were closer in deficit, but a pair of 200-plus outings to open the series secured a 975-869 victory and another 2-0 sweep for Vanderbilt. The defending league champions advance to face No. 4 Stephen F. Austin in the championship semifinal tomorrow afternoon. The baker total pinfall games which followed were also high scoring and close, as both teams registered two 200-plus scoring games. However, it was the Ladyjacks again who came out on top, winning 974-939 to defeat the top seed and advance to tomorrow’s championship semifinal against No. 2 Vanderbilt. Match 7: No. 1 Arkansas State vs. No. 4 Stephen F. AustinIn another tightly contested matchup, the Ladyjacks narrowly squeaked out two wins for a sweep of No. 1 Arkansas State. In the traditional game, just five points separated the two teams when all was said and done as SFA earned a 975-970 victory and a 1-0 advantage for the round. Jordan Richard tallied 234 for the Red Wolves but it was not enough for a pair of Ladyjack 211 scores from Stephanie Schwart and Dakota Faichnie. Match 2: No. 4 Stephen F. Austin vs. No. 5 TulaneIn the four-five matchup, Tulane put up an impressive 1,007-pinfall performance against the Ladyjacks, winning by 145. The Green Wave got a monster game from Tiera Gulum (238) and another 200-plus outing from Isabelle Lee (212). All others scored 185 or higher. Helped along by five open 10th frames from SFA, Tulane won the traditional game 1,007-682. Match 1: No. 1 Arkansas State vs. No. 8 MonmouthBehind a strong opening traditional match with all five bowlers scoring 188 or higher, Monmouth narrowly took a 1-0 lead over the top seeded Red Wolves. The Hawks were led by a 203 from Julie Bianco and 200 from Haley Solberg. However, A-State stormed back in the baker total pinfall series, knotting the match at 1-1 with a 946-816 victory. Vandy again tallied over a thousand with a 1,130-976 victory in the baker total pinfall games to advance 2-0. Advancers BracketMatch 11: No. 2 Vanderbilt vs. No. 4 Stephen F. AustinMatch 12: Match 9 winner vs. Match 10 winner
PANAMA CITY, (CMC):Jamaica’s Montego Bay United conceded two first-half goals as they slumped to a 3-0 defeat to Arabe Unido in their opening Group H game of the CONCACAF Champions League at the Estadio Maracana here Wednesday night.JosÈ Gonzalez and Renan Addles both netted to give the hosts a 2-0 lead at the break, before Enrico Small added a third late in the second half, to wrap up the points.The defeat left Montego Bay with a tall order to qualify, as they face powerful Major League Soccer’s DC United in their next game later this month.Hoping for a bright start, the Jamaican outfit were behind after just 12 minutes when Yoel Barcenas set up Gonzalez, who fired past goalkeeper Jacomeno Barrett from inside the area.It was Barrett who was at fault for the second goal, seeming to misjudge Addles’s free kick from nearly 30 yards out, and watching helplessly as the ball bounced past him.Montego Bay kept the scoreline intact until eleven minutes from the end when Small finally broke through to complete a convincing victory.The 26-year-old eluded his marker and climbed on to a free kick to power past Barrett from point-blank range.
FIRST SUPER-6 FANCIES (1) FORCE DE HOUR/GOLDEN BULLET (2) RICHIE’S PIK/LEGAL ARENA (3) SIR BIGGS (4) GOLD MINER/ZANDRINA (5) DA JACKAL/CHEERS (6) ALEXANDER/EXPRESS TRUCK WITH the Pick-9 and Super-6s having been caught on Wednesday, both start anew on tomorrow’s mammoth 13-race programme, which commences as early as 11.15 a.m. The Pick-9 will embrace races five to 13, the first Super-6 from race one to six, the late Super-6 from eight to 13. We look at the first Super-6, which commences with a $550,000-$500,000 claiming race to be contested by seven starters over 1400 metres, including the recent winner, FORCE DE JOUR, with 3.0kg claiming apprentice Bebeto Harvey riding for veteran trainer Robert Darby Sr. FORCE DE JOUR beat RED FLAG and EDISON over 1100 metres on January 31 in a highly competitive overnight allowance race, and now edging down to high claiming company, should tick off his eighth win from his last 11 races. ACTION MAN, who won recently, and the consistent GOLDEN BULLET, should ensure that FORCE DE JOUR is extended. RICHIE’S PIK, with champion jockey Shane Ellis riding for trainer Collin Blair, looks best of a moderate lot in the second race again over 1400 for maiden four-year-olds and up. The four-year-old son of War Marshall was a fast-finishing second to LAGUNA POINT over the straight course on January 1 and followed up with a fair effort behind MINY LEE on January 9. On both occasions, he was ridden by the sparingly-used jockey Phillip Parchment. Ellis could make all the difference tomorrow. LEGAL ARENA looks the obvious danger in a field of 10. SIR BIGGS, who has been knocking at the door lately, gets the nod over old rival SCAR in the third race over a mile to be contested by nine starters. SIR BIGGS, who will now be ridden by top apprentice Linton Steadman for trainer Donovan Plummer, went under in a close finish to TURBO MACHINE CAT over 1400 metres on January 31, a race in which SCAR was just behind in third and is a danger to SIR BIGGS as a result of that performance. The last three races in the first Super-6 should be won by GOLD MINER (Omar Walker up), down in class DA JACKAL (Aaron Chatrie), and ALEXANDER with Dane Nelson aboard.
Pealat Construction Company has announced that the Belleh Yallah road project might not be quite finished at this point, but it is on track.The road project links Bopolu and throughout the entire country; specifically Belleh Yallah.Belleh Yallah is a town in Gbarpolu County. It used to be the home of a notorious prison used by rogue regimes to rid themselves of political rivals by banishing (exiling, sending away) them for being ‘trouble-makers.’The chief executive officer (CEO) of Pealat, Mr. Praise O. T. Lawal, explained that minor construction work on the project involving culverts and a few bad spots are ongoing in order to fully complete the road and then turn it over to national government.Mr. Lawal maintained that as Bellah Yallah has been inaccessible since the founding of Liberia, maximum human capacity is needed in an effort to adequately prepare the road for motorists.He noted that most of the work ongoing are part of the contract that was not included in previous arrangements with the Ministry of Public Works and his entity initially. “However,” he said, “the project will be fully completed in time.”Pealat boss Lawal made the disclosure recently when three civil society organizations honoured him and the company for their many positive contributions to national growth.The Progressive Alliance Movement of Liberia, Liberian Youth Initiative, Free Conscious Independent and Objective Thinkers of Liberia, flowered the Liberian company for engaging in several technical road projects involving Johnsonville Dry Rice Market, St. Michael, Tusa Field and Soul Clinic roads respectively.Making remarks, Chairman of Progressive Alliance Movement of Liberia, K. Mamadee Keita, called on the national government to settle its financial obligations to all Liberian-owned companies, including the Pealat Construction Company.Keita added that in the absence of said settlement, most of the affected companies may not be efficient in their operations, particularly when Pealat has to finalize the Bopolu Highway.Accepting the honour, Mr. Lawal praised the groups for the recognition, stressing that “it was important for young people to always think positively about their nation and people.”Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
The attention of this newspaper is drawn to a story carried in its April 4, 2019 edition under the headline, “Is Reconciliation Becoming Elusive –Liberia Peace-building Office urges adoption of National Reconciliation Policy urgently”.According to the writer of the story, Daily Observer reporter William Harmon, the dissemination of hate messages though the country on social and other media, has become a cause of concern not only to well-meaning Liberians but to the international community as well. The story also reported that there are growing public concerns about the danger of the country slipping back into violence given the rising wave of mob violence and vigilante justice which the Police appear incapable of addressing.It is against this backdrop, according to the writer, that the Executive Director of the Liberian Peace Building Office (PBO) Eddie Mulbah has called for the adoption of a national reconciliation policy in order to help curtail what it calls “the spread of unwarranted hate messages”, some of which are contributing to rising social and political tension in the country.Mr. Mulbah made the remarks recently when he spoke at the launch of the “Advancing Reconciliation through Legislative Reforms and Civic Engagement,” project in Bentol. He maintained that reconciliation remains a vehicle for sustained long-term stability, which cannot be achieved without local participation and dialogue among stakeholders.Since the cessation of hostilities in the country, Mr. Mulbah noted, Liberia is yet to develop what he called a national reconciliation policy that would heal the wounds and reunite the citizenship.According to him the uncontrollable level of hate currently suffusing the airwaves can be attributed to the lack of a policy document on reconciliation which, according to him, could explain why high ranking government officials as well as leaders of political parties speak however they please without regards for tact or rectitude.Additionally, Mulbah called for the establishment of what he called a national reconciliation trust fund in order to finance reconciliation initiatives in the country, stressing that the proposed Trust Fund is in line with the Strategic Road Map for National Peace-building, Healing and Reconciliation, which is a step down of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) recommendations.While this newspaper agrees with Mr. Mulbah that the proliferation of hate messages need to be curtailed, it is however concerned but not disappointed that the local Peace Building Office has since its establishment pursued what critics have described as poorly conceived half-baked policy options as alternatives to the TRC recommendations on justice and accountability, which it continues to tout as reconciliation initiatives. This newspaper recalls for instance, Dr. Elwood Dunn’s scathing criticisms at the time, of the Peace Building Office’s “Strategic Road Map for Peace” as being grossly misaligned with the Vision 2030.Implementation results of the so-called “Road Map for Peace” are barely cognizable and they remain at best questionable. Just how has pursuit of the Strategic the Road Map for Peace initiative on which millions have been spent, enhanced the attainment of Peace, fostered reconciliation or promoted justice, remains yet to be seen or felt.The TRC recommendations called for criminal accountability (justice) as well as reparations, none of which received even the most scanty attention from the Peace Building Office (PBO) for the obvious reasons of placating a national leader, an alleged founding member of the National Patriotic Front (NPFL) and whose bitter opposition to the TRC was well known.From all indications, according to observers, the PBO’s disposition towards the TRC report during the reign of President Sirleaf appeared to have been influenced and informed by an innate fear of presidential hostility to broaching issues of accountability, justice and genuine reconciliation and reparations.The Daily Observer notes that, right next door in Sierra Leone, justice and accountability were addressed following the end of that country’s TRC process. Not only were individuals tried but reparations were paid as well. The Sierra Leone Peace Building Office according to reports provided seed funding to the Government of Sierra Leone as support to that country’s Reparations program. Today, Sierra Leone unlike Liberia, is at peace with itself and making rapid strides in its development efforts.As the Chairman of the National Youth Movement for Transparent Elections (NAYMOTE), Eddie Jarwolo, observed during the launch program, development partners have disclosed that they have spent over US$8 billion for peace-building and consolidation in the country since 2003, yet reconciliation is far from being achieved. Whether the PBO realizes it or not, Mr. Jarwolo’s revelation is indeed a stinking indictment of the direction of its policy pursuits and initiatives on national reconciliation.And the Daily Observer cannot help but draw attention to what it sees as the PBO’s ingenuous attempts to carefully skirt questions of justice and accountability just as it did during the Sirleaf administration. The displayed reluctance of the Weah Administration to squarely address issues of justice and accountability appears to be influencing tested and failed reconciliation policy initiatives currently being advanced by the PBO, which soft-pedals on such critical issues of justice and accountability, absent which, impunity thrives and ultimately undermines genuine reconciliation.PBO officials must keep on mind that now, more than ever, is time for Justice and Accountability to rank very high or first on the list of imperatives to foster peace and genuine reconciliation. Reconciliation must be based on Justice and this, PBO officials must come to terms with.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
General Secretary People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Bharrat Jagdeo is again questioning the slothfulness of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) having publicly committed to question Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson over the sole sourcing of a $148 million Demerara Harbour bridge contract. Jagdeo on Wednesday said the PPP will be re-fling private criminal charges against several Government Ministers. The Public Procurement Commission (PPC) had flagged Minister Patterson for requesting from Cabinet that the contract be sole sourced, instead of being processed through the Procurement Board as the law dictates should be done.Earlier this year, the PPP had filed private charges against the Minister and four of his Cabinet colleagues but Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack discontinued the charges over the contentious D’Urban Park Project.It was contended that the Ministers allegedly breached the Procurement Act in relation to the expenditure of $906 million in public funds to a private company.Now that the PPC and Auditor General have issued findings highlighting breaches in the procurement process regarding Government-signed contracts, Jagdeo signalled on Wednesday that his party intends to write the Police on the matter with corresponding documents. The Opposition Leader’s commitment comes after the DPP’s public disclosure in April that her reasoning for discontinuing the charges were based on the position that allegations should have been reported to Police in the interest of “good governance.”“We want to see if the DPP will still look at these charges now that an audit report is out because she said she is for the cause of good governance, I don’t know what kind of good governance that is but that was the excuse” Jagdeo said.The Party already sent one matter to the Police implicating Minister Patterson for breaches to the procurement process by the awarding of a $148 million sole-sourced contract to Dutch company, LievenseCSO for a feasibility study into the new Demerara River crossing.Jagdeo said he is surprised that the Minister has not yet been called in by SOCU – the very unit that called several Ministers of the former President’s Cabinet on multiple occasions.“We deposited it with SOCU and asked for an investigation, already two months have passed, and Patterson did have to go into SOCU as yet and this is an investigation done by the constitutional body, the Public Procurement Commission and it was found that it was illegal. The Police didn’t have to do much more investigation, they could’ve used the report to put the allegations to Patterson and then charge him by now, they should’ve invited the whole Cabinet in like they did to talk about what took place at the other Cabinet… they promised that,” Jagdeo revealed. It was subsequently announced that SOCU would be investigating the contract award.Previous chargesOn April 19, 2018, the PPP filed cases in the names of two Members of Parliament (MP) – Vickram Bharrat and Juan Edghill – against Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence and Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton for misconduct in public office. This was in relation to the sole sourcing of drugs and other pharmaceuticals for the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation from privately owned, ANSA McAL Trading Limited and the rental of a house in Sussex Street, Albouystown, Georgetown to be utilised as a drug bond at a cost of $12 million monthly, The use of the building has since been discontinued, after several millions were expended.Meanwhile, Finance Minister Winston Jordan, then Education Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine and Minister Patterson were charged for misconduct in relation to the D’Urban Park Project. However, after brief consideration, DPP Ali-Hack discontinued for misconduct in public office, contrary to the Common Law, under Article 187 (1) (c) of the Constitution.
0Shares0000The price paid per Premier League game has dropped from £10.2 million to £9.3 million for the time being following the latest deal © AFP/File / OLI SCARFFLONDON, United Kingdom, Feb 14 – The Premier League could be set for a pay cut after eye-watering back-to-back domestic TV deals but experts say the boom times are far from over for English football.Sky held on to its position as the main broadcaster of live matches, claiming four of the seven available packages for 2019-2022, with BT taking the other package sold so far at a total combined cost of £4.46 billion. With more games still up for grabs, the overall deal for the 200 matches on offer each season — up from the current 168 — could still surpass the £5.14 billion paid for 2016-2019 but the price per game has at the moment dropped from £10.2 million to £9.3 million.AFP Sport looks at the reason for the slowdown in the rampant inflation after successive 70 percent increases.‘Correction in the marketplace’Premier League chief Richard Scudamore could barely contain his glee when he announced the whopping increase in the value of the UK TV rights three years ago.It was a deal so good it caused consternation across Europe. La Liga president Javier Tebas warned the Premier League could become “the NBA of football”, having himself secured a deal for just 2.65 billion euros for domestic rights.However, that level of inflation was not expected to be matched this time around.“I think the abnormal deal, the one that took everyone by surprise, was the last one — a 70 per cent increase which was way more than I think anybody was expecting,” said former Premier League chief executive Rick Parry.“It’s a little correction in the marketplace.”Overseas rightsWhere the Premier League does expect to keep cashing in is overseas TV rights.In November a three-year deal from 2019 was reportedly agreed with China’s PPTV worth $700 million – 10 times the current contract for Chinese TV rights.US broadcaster NBC also reportedly paid $1 billion for the six seasons until 2021-22 in 2015.“On the international stage deals have already been done in the States, China, Brazil and Africa,” Tim Bridge, senior manager at Deloitte’s Sports Business Group told AFP. “The significant growth in new markets suggests the appetite for the Premier League around the world hasn’t diluted.”In a conference call with investors last week, Manchester United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward said the league’s “global cumulative audience has increased nine per cent year-by-year, with particularly strong increases in Asia and North America”.‘Entente Cordiale’An agreement reached by Sky and BT in November to provide each other’s content to their customers for the first time also played a significant role in suppressing the value of rights, according to experts.“BT and Sky have entered an Entente Cordiale,” said football finance expert Kieran Maguire.“BT entered the sports market because Sky was hoovering up the broadband market. The deal in November to carry each other’s services is a sign of hostilities between the two easing.”Sky’s share price rose three percent on Wednesday after boasting how the new deal sees them paying 16 percent less per game than the previous agreement for their 128 games.“It is excellent news for Sky,” according to Julian Aquilina of media analysts Enders. “Neither player was pushed to position themselves to bid for all the packages like the last time. They can still offer all the packages to their customers presuming no third party wins the other two packages.”Not yet Prime time for Amazon?A change to the number and structure of the packages offered had been part of the Premier League’s strategy to drive up prices by enticing tech giants such as Amazon and Facebook to bid for rights.That interest has so far failed to emerge, although Amazon could still feature in the auction for the final two packages.Tech companies’ ability to broadcast live sport “is still very much in its infancy,” according to Bridge, who points to the huge production and presentation costs on top of merely winning the rights.Piracy problemAnother factor suppressing the value of all sports rights is illegal online streaming.“Piracy was a very big concern,” said Aquilina. “Its shadow has loomed over football TV rights and other sports rights in recent years.“Because it is so expensive and so popular, people are pushed to find other ways of watching so piracy has definitely played its part in drumming down the price.”0Shares0000(Visited 1 times, 1 visits today)
1 Diego Costa pleads his innocence after his tackle on West Ham keeper Adrian New Chelsea manager Antonio Conte believes the referee made the right call to not send off striker Diego Costa, who later scored the winning goal in their Premier League clash with West Ham.The Spanish striker courted controversy again on Monday night as he avoided a second yellow card for a late challenge on Hammers goalkeeper Adrian.He then handed Conte the ideal start to his Premier League career at Stamford Bridge, by scoring late on to seal a 2-1 victory for Chelsea over their London rivals.West Ham boss Slaven Bilic said following the game that the frotman should have been sent off, though admitted the challenge was NOT a reckless one.But new boss Conte moved quickly to defend his man, insisting Costa forward did not deserve a red card.“I must be honest Diego tried to put pressure on Adrian, and then before the contact he stopped,” said Conte.“And then for this reason I think that the referee took the right decision.“We know Diego is a passionate man, and he puts passion into everything he does.“And he showed he will run for everything.“But in this situation I must be honest I think that the referee took the right decision.”Former Juventus boss Conte opted to leave Cesc Fabregas on the bench for Monday’s game.The Spain midfielder has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge this summer, with former club Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus all reportedly interested.But Conte insisted Fabregas retains a pivotal role at the club.“Cesc is Chelsea’s player, and I’m happy about him, with his attitude and behaviour,” said Conte.“He must know from before that when we are a great team like Chelsea it can happen that I have to take a decision before the game to choose a starting XI.“It can happen that Fabregas is not in the starting XI, but it can happen for all the players.”
ALTERED 15 REVEALED 15 Latest Premier League News Michail Antonio – 6 Arsenal came from behind to beat a spirited West Ham United at the Emirates.Marko Arnautovic gave the visitors a well-deserved lead after a fantastic run from Felipe Anderson in a first half an hour they completely dominated. Where Ancelotti ranks with every Premier League boss for trophies won smart causal 15 silverware possible standings 15 Arthur Masuaku – 4 15 REVEALED 15 15 One of the very few who could leave the pitch with any pride, the former Aston Villa man generally steadied a shaky looking midfield. Will play worse and win games Felipe Anderson – 7 (SUB) Lucas Perez – 4 Tottenham predicted XI to face Brighton with Mourinho expected to make big changes Every current Premier League club’s best kit from the past decade Very rare a goalkeeper concedes three but deserves a high rating. However, Fabianski made several fantastic saves on his return to Arsenal and deserves a more protection fro the defenders in front of him. huge blow Tottenham v Brighton LIVE: talkSPORT commentary and team news for Boxing Day opener 15 15 15 Ryan Fredericks – 6 On his Premier League debut, the France Under-21 international looked lost. He didn’t know whether to get tight or back off Aubameyang and his woeful positioning made it all too easy for the Arsenal attackers 15 Three Premier League games started and 10 goals conceded. How much longer can Pellegrini persist with the Paraguay international? A liability Carlos Sanchez – 6 England’s most successful clubs of the past decade, according to trophies won As a wing-back as part of a back five, Masuaku looked like a world beater. Transfer rumours last season suggested the defender would be soon moving onto better things. However, he cannot defend for toffee – criminal for a left-back Scored a fantastic opener, but was guilty of missing several gilt-edged chances. His injury will be of huge concern to Pellegrini 15 Oxlade-Chamberlain suffers another setback as Klopp confirms serious injury 15 After being dropped from the squad altogether last week, the right-back had a point to prove. A strong defensive display, he looked much more positive going forward as well and made a number of strong covering tackles The Scotland international’s poor start to this season, coupled with his brilliant form for Aston Villa last time out suggest he is more suited to the Championship. Not good enough, but at least he put some effort in Robert Snodgrass – 5 How the Premier League table could change after the Boxing Day fixtures 15 But yet another lapse in concentration at the back this season allowed Hector Bellerin to run from deep in behind, and his cross found an unmarked Nacho Monreal, who finished superbly.With the scores level at half time, the Hammers would have felt reasonably comfortable going into the break.However, the introduction of Alexandre Lacazette alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang caused chaos in a backline which had already conceded seven goals this season.A poor clearance from Issa Diop eventually found a way to Lacazette, who blasted a cross into the path of the young France Under-21 international. Which teams do the best on Boxing Day in the Premier League era? Used his pace to expose Hector Bellerin time and time again, just couldn’t get the final ball right gameday Fabian Balbuena – 4 West Ham’s most dangerous player on the day, the former Lazio man was breathtaking at times, galloping away from opposition players with consummate ease Marko Arnautovic – 6 15 Jack Wilshere – 4 (SUB) Javier Hernandez – 5 Arsenal players celebrate their second goal Will surely start the next game against Wolves, looks bright every time he comes onto the pitch Wilshere said he didn’t want emotion to get the better of him on his Arsenal return, but he actually looked as though he couldn’t be bothered. Gave the ball away countless times, a yard off the pace and failing to track runners. He looks more and more like the wasted talent who failed to get into the Bournemouth side Whilst searching for an equaliser, the Gunners broke and Danny Welbeck had the time to take a touch, turn and score a goal with his left foot before a Hammers player had a chance to get a tackle in.The result means it is three defeats at the start of a season for the second season in a row for West Ham, while Unai Emery gets his first Premier League points.But how did Manuel Pellegrini’s men get on at the Emirates on an individual perspective? Scroll down to see the player ratings from the game.Lukasz Fabianski – 6 Another former Gunner returning to his old stomping ground, the Spaniard looked like a player lacking in a decent pre-season (SUB) – Andriy Yarmolenko – 6 Issa Diop – 3 Looked a yard off the pace, will need to step up sharpish in the absence of Arnautovic 
Freddie Cardenas has three huge gas cans in his garage, but he has little use for their precious cargo. He’s an off-road enthusiast, one who loves big machines with throaty engines. Behind his home near Los Feliz, he’s got three Sea-Doos, two dirt bikes and a miniature motorcycle, plus a Ford F-350 to haul them around. And yet, his primary mode of transportation has become a bicycle. With gasoline around $3 a gallon, Cardenas has been priced out of his hobby – a common problem faced by recreational motorists of all sorts. AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREThe top 10 theme park moments of 2019 “At the rate things have been going, these things are going to be on sale soon,” the 26-year-old sighed, staring at a pair of Jet Skis. “You want to get away, not think about things like gas prices, but now you’ve got to start planning ahead for these things. “Twenty bucks here, $20 there, just so when the time comes, you’ll have money to pay up.” His Sea-Doos require 91-octane and $50 per tank to fill up, and his truck gets a measly seven miles to the gallon – eight if he’s lucky. With a tight group of buddies, he used to regularly make trips to Laughlin, Nev., or down to Baja. Lately, he’s been hanging close to home and trading horsepower for leg power on the street-racing bike he pedals most days to his job at the Burbank courthouse. This is the struggle faced by gearheads of all sorts – their hobbies usually revolve around which car can go fastest, which truck can surmount the highest dune, which boat accelerates most quickly. Hobbyists used to joke that a long drive and lunch in a hot rod added up to a $50 cheeseburger – now it’s 100 bucks for that same bite to eat. “There’s no doubt it affects use,” said Ron Epstein, director of media for the Good Sam Club, a Ventura-based recreational-vehicle owners organization. “You’re talking about vehicles that get on average less than 10 miles to the gallon. With more than $3 gas, that’s expensive. “I don’t think it’ll make people stop using them, but they’ll have to stay closer to home.” Conservation’s one of the only options for recreational users – there are no economy motor homes or hybrid dirt bikes. While Cardenas tries to cut down on fuel costs by sharing a truck with friends on their sojourns, Sea-Doo-pooling doesn’t have the same appeal as doubling up in a car. And for the true die-hards, when prices rise, they just cut out other expenses. Bill McLean, who manages Kolbe Cycle in Woodland Hills, still keeps a jet boat, maintains a motor home and keeps driving his pickup powered by a “a big American V-8.” “You work a little harder, you work some more hours, sacrifice going out to dinner here or there,” McLean said. “Maybe you wear that pair of pants a couple extra times before you buy new ones … For these kind of people, it’s a lifestyle they won’t give up just because gas went up a little bit. They’ll get a second job before they give up riding.” — Brent Hopkins, (818) 713-3738 brent.hopkins@dailynews.com160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set!