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There are many, many reasons for James Toney to feel uncomfortable in the Octagon on Aug. 28, but there are two factors that aren't getting a lot of play: gloves and shoes.

One is shrinking and one is disappearing.

Boxers wear shoes for traction: They plant their feet and throw, driving up from the ground to generate power. If you spend two decades wearing shoes and then begin throwing punches without them, I guarantee it's going to feel alien. nike airmax 2009 Toney had them, and now he doesn't.

The boxer is also moving from the big foam clubs to four-ounce grappling mitts, and while that's usually a sign of sadism -- if he can maul with bigger gloves, imagine what he can do without -- it's also going to affect Toney's defense. Boxers can protect themselves with the same tool they use as a weapon. nike airmax If Toney instinctively puts his hands up expecting coverage, a hand is going to slice through.

These are not points Bernard Hopkins brought up during an interview with Hardcore Sports Radio (and uncovered by Cagewriter) this week, but the argument is still the same: Toney is out of his element.

"When you step out into a situation where Â… the best MMA guy or UFC guy [goes] up against the best boxer in the world in their arena, in their arena gets their ass kicked," he said. "I don't care who it is, whether Floyd [Mayweather], [Manny] Pacquiao, Bernard Hopkins -- they get their ass kicked. 09 cheap nike air max That is not what we do."

Hopkins is 90 percent there. Two kinds of boxers would have modest success in MMA: The highly athletic and the highly aggressive. Mike Tyson had the fuel-injection momentum of Melvin Manhoef without the kicks, and Manhoef has earned wins despite having no ground aptitude whatsoever. Sometimes a guy's sheer steamrolling is enough.

The second contingent would resemble the early Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic: a hyper-athletic striker who can pick up defensive wrestling quickly. 09 sneakers A few years ago, maybe the Klitschkos could've pulled it off.

I'm not willing, as Hopkins is, to totally dismiss any boxer's chances in MMA. But Toney, with his plodding, gut-slop style, ain't the guy.
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Since the ill-fated "Decision," it has been all downhill for LeBron James. Downhill, and now out of sight.

LeBron James opted not to speak at the Team USA scrimmage, unlike his friend Chris Paul. (AP)
The latest botched attempt at protecting James' bruised public image came Thursday night at Radio City Music Hall, when James was shielded from the spotlight during a Nike-sponsored Team USA scrimmage on the stage that belongs to the Rockettes. James was the only NBA star seated courtside who was not shown on the giant video screens or handed a microphone to speak publicly.air max shoes As if it was possible to hide the sport's biggest star in the middle of its showcase event on the most famous performance stage in the country.

Nice try, but James hiding from public scorn is worse than the boos that would've ensued in his first public appearance in New York since he shunned the Knicks as a free agent. And surely, such boos couldn't have been as bad as the heckling James recently experienced while shooting baskets at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio.

But I digress. James' missteps didn't end there, proving that he doesn't even have to be around to do something wrong. Air Max Nike shoes James did not attend a Jordan Brand breakfast and public appearance at storied Rucker Park in Harlem on Friday morning in conjunction with Nike's elaborate World Basketball Festival. Teammate Dwyane Wade and pals Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul showed up to pay homage to Michael Jordan, posting pics on Twitter to commemorate their appearance with the man they called "legendary" and "the greatest." Not LeBron, though, as far as anyone saw.

So, I called LeBron's New York-based publicist, Keith Estabrook, to confirm that James -- who unlike Wade, Melo and Paul isn't a Jordan Brand athlete -- was, in fact, [url='http://"http://www.nikeeb.com/']nike shoes[/url] not in attendance.

"No, he's LeBron James," Estabrook said. "He's his own brand."

As the great Steve Martin used to say, well, ex-cuse me.

No, James isn't a Jordan Brand athlete. But he is Nike's highest-profile pitchman now that Tiger Woods' life and golf career are in freefall. air max classic The World Basketball Festival, a four-day, Nike-sponsored and Nike-produced event surrounding Team USA training camp in New York, has been staged without so much as a peep from King James.

Well, no peeps, but a memorable tweet. While presumably en route to New York for the week's festivities, James tweeted Tuesday: "Don't think for one min that I haven't been taking mental notes of everyone taking shots at me this summer. And I mean everyone!"

I'm most assuredly already on that list, so joining it is not my motivation for writing this.[url='http://"http://www.nikeeb.com/nike-air-max-tailwind-2009-mens-c-19.html"'] air max 09 [/url]The motivation comes from disappointment with the sad spectacle of the Summer of LeBron, and also from curiosity.

Is James simply laying low, unsure of how to ease himself back into the public eye after a summer of PR gaffes that sent his "Chosen One" image tumbling? Or is this attempt to separate himself from his peers -- and from Jordan on Friday -- a calculated move.

Perhaps Jordan, LeBron's alleged basketball muse, is on LeBron's mental-notes hit list after he criticized the King's decision to join forces with Wade in Miami.[url='http://"http://www.nikeeb.com/']nike max air [/url]Perhaps Charles Barkley, who eviscerated James in a radio interview this week, wasn't having an event that James could blow off.

Nike Air Max Uptempo 97 was made popular by Scottie Pippen and now set to release once again in classic Black/Metallic Silver/Varsity Red colorway. nike air classic This new pair flaunts a black upper made in leather and nubuck. Most of this sneaker is done in black including midsole and the bottom sole. Hints of metallic silver can be seen on the midsole jewels, Air Max unit and branding throughout the sneaker.

Varsity red is used in minimal form at different spots. The black wavy upper looks really exciting with an extended black rubber midsole. air max lebron Overall, these sneakers look great and the good news is that these are now available for $160 at select Nike accounts online. [url='http://"http://www.nikeeb.com/nike-air-max-tailwind-2009-mens-c-19.html']air max 09 [/url]Check for the availability and let us know if you cop a pair.

Who can tell when a classic sneaker becomes the subject of customization? The fact that Nike Air Max 90 has received hands from sneaker retailer, Foot Locker is one of the greatest designs to date. air max shoes Imagine warm, dark, and vibrant colors mixed together forming one plate of very organized palette.

This might exceed your imagination but Foot Locker crew made the unique mixture possible. [url='http://"http://www.nikeeb.com/']Air Max Nike shoes [/url]By blending white, gray, black, purple, royal blue, neon green, and hot red, this shoe now renders the most stable colorway ever in the running lineup. Grey toe and heel areas, white overlays, hot red Swoosh, purple and royal blue midsole fragments, neon green Max Air unit, and black trimming all contribute specific roles on this piece. nike shoes The combination of leather and nylon materials is such a wonderful idea that flairs up this craft.

European runners are lucky to have this available now at Foot Locker locations in Europe while North American air max classic Air Max fans took this down on their waiting lists.

The Nike Air Max 90 is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and it is hard to believe that the shoe has already been around for that long.nike airmax 2009 It seems like just yesterday for some of the older sneakerheads that this shoe was just releasing for the first time in its OG colorways but indeed it has been a full 20 years since that time.
Over the years we have seen a great amount of amazing colorways for this sneaker and today we are going to take a look at one more. cheap nike shoes This is the new Nike Air Max 90 Premium Gorge Green.

This pair has already started arriving overseas and it features a premium leather construction that looks just great. scarpe nike Gorge green leather is used for the upper of the shoe while nubuck is used on the mudguard.[url='http://"http://www.nikeeb.com/']foot locker [/url]White accents appear throughout the rest of the shoe.

WIth Trindon Holliday probably out for the season after undergoing surgery on his thumb, the Texans will turn to some familiar faces to fill the kickoff roles. According to Gary Kubiak, Jacoby Jones will be returning punts and Steve Slaton will be given the initial chance to become the kickoff returns. Losing Holliday stings a little for those optimistic that heÂ’d be a dominant return man, but in the end, you canÂ’t miss what you never had. nike shoes 2009 The increased roles for Slaton and Jones could open up more playing time on offense for guys like Jeremiah Johnson or Chris Henry, and possibly David Anderson as well.

Darryl Sharpton has been classified as day-to-day with swelling in his knee. That was why the Texans had to cancel practice yesterday: they just didnÂ’t have enough healthy linebackers to run it since it seems like everyone who tries to fill Brian CushingÂ’s shoes gets banged up. nike air 2010 Maybe they should all take PEDÂ’s to hasten their recovery timeÂ…just kidding.

Bernard Pollard says the Texans got beat up again. This time, in the film room:

Like I said, we took one Saturday from the Saints and then Monday he put us all in one room. We all watched every single play. I think that was enough.nike new releases When you put up film like that and your teammates see how bad you played and you see how many mistakes were in one play and how many missed tackles there were in one play. I think we missed four tackles on one play. You canÂ’t do that and coach (Gary) Kubiak let us know in a polite way that he donÂ’t want that out of us and we donÂ’t want that out of ourselves. new nike air max We have to hold each other accountable and I think in order for us to do that weÂ’ve got to show it on the field

I believe the 2008 Detroit Lions would like to register a complaint: you certainly can do that, Mr. Pollard. You just have to accept the consequences of being an awful defense if you do.

DE James Wyche, who the Texans signed after Tim Bulman was placed on IR, was released today as the team made room for WR Derrick Townsel, who signed yesterday nike air max cheap.

TE Owen Daniels, who declared that a scan and MRI said that he was 100 percent to MyFoxHoustonÂ’s Mark Berman, will get his next big test on Wednesday as he flies to see Dr. James Andrews and hopefully get the OK to go ahead from one of the most well-renowned sports physicians in America.

Newly-crowned Rose of Tralee Clare Kambamettu celebrated her big win last night by sharing an embrace with her boyfriend James after her name was called out.

The stunning Kildare native said: "I thought Daithi was messing when he called out my name. I thought 'he's got to be joking' -- but obviously he wasn't.

"Any of the 31 girls who I've spent the past ten days could equally have been in my shoes. air max 09 It's just been a fantastic experience and I can't wait for the year ahead."

The 25-year-old psychologist, who is half Indian/half Irish, is the daughter of Dr Ravi Kambamettu and admits that her win has particularly delighted her father, who moved to the Emerald Isle when he was in his early twenties.

Fantastic

Clare, who graduated with an arts degree from NUIG, before going on to do a Master's Degree in Psychology at King's College, London, nike max air admits she never thought she would be able to enter the annual lovely girls contest, let alone win it, when she was a child.

" I think it's fantastic that Ireland has become so multi-cultural and more and more diverse over the last ten years or so. I just can't believe I'm getting this opportunity," she said.

"I hope that I'll be able to represent not only the Indian community but different ethnic minorities throughout the nike airmax 2009 world as well as I can.

"My dad's particularly delighted. He didn't grow up with it so it means so much to him.

"He's in complete shock, he and my mum Breda both are. They're so excited that I'm going to be moving home, although I still need to hand in my notice," she laughed.

Clare went on to explain how host Daithi put her at ease when she took to the stage last night and says her predecessor nike airmax Charmaine Kenny -- a fellow London Rose -- has been a great support since she first entered the contest.

"Charmaine has told me all about the fantastic things she has done and the things I can get involved in and I can't wait to sit down and have a proper chat with her," she added.

Festival panel judge Mary Kennedy said it was an extremely difficult decision for her and her fellow judges 09 cheap nike air max .

Confident

"We've spent a lot of time with these women.We had one on ones. We had individual sessions. We studied them for over a week. We had group sessions. They were all very confident young ladies."

Meanwhile, former Rose of Tralee presenter Gay Byrne has given Daithi O Se a thumbs up following his debut stint presenting the festival 09 sneakers .

Gaybo, who celebrated his 76th birthday earlier this month, told the Diary his days of attending the contest as a guest are now behind him.

"I only saw the very beginning of it but he seemed to be doing well," he said.

Festival organisers were equally delighted with the Kerry native's debut year.

"We are delighted with Daithi's performance.air max 09 shoes He brought a burst of energy and enthusiasm to proceedings in the Dome and it was obvious that the home crowd were thrilled to have one of their own on stage," they said.

However, Mary (53) who has been on the judging panel of the annual festival for three years, vowed she would never step into Daithi's shoes.

She insists that the male/female dynamic is key.

"I do think the chemistry between the man and woman works," she told the Diary.

"I mean,nike air shoes Marty was brilliant with the Roses and the past few years I've been there with Ray and there was great banter.

"And goodness we all know there's plenty of banter with Daithi and the girls.

"You need that kind of chemistry and I don't think you'd get that with two women up there," she added.

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- At last, an economic strategy that can muster truly bipartisan support: House Minority Leader John Boehner's call this week to fire Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and White House economic adviser Larry Summers.

Boehner, who was not previously known for his insights into economics, found a surprising resonance in the press with his call to get rid of President Barack Obama's top two economic aides.

The Ohio Republican, who would probably become speaker of the House if Republicans gain the majority in midterm elections, noted that Obama's economic team is "exhausted," and that Budget Director nike airmax 2009 Peter Orszag and Council of Economic Advisers Chairwoman Christina Romer have headed for the exits. Read more about Boehner's speech.

Opinion Journal: Is Obama 'American Enough'?OpinionJournal.com columnist James Taranto on recent presidential polls. Also, columnist Mary O'Grady discusses the Wyclef Jean Saga.
"President Obama should ask for - and accept - the resignations of the remaining members of his economic team, cheap nike shoes starting with Secretary Geithner and Larry Summers, the head of the National Economic Council," Boehner intoned solemnly in a speech to the City Club of Cleveland.

Not much of a strategy, you might say. But, like most presidents, Obama is not himself an economist and has relied more or less blindly on the guidance of his top two economic advisers, who have not counseled him wisely.scarpe nike Many Democrats as well as presumably all Republicans would be happy to see Geithner and Summers go.

These two men, each in his own way fairly discredited even before they took office in this administration, get much of the blame for the failure of Obama's economic policy.

It is the president himself, of course, who, with the curious lack of leadership that has characterized his time in office so far, ultimately bears the responsibility.air max shoes Changing the economic team is no guarantee that Obama would adopt a more forceful and coherent economic policy, but it is a necessary condition for getting there.

Obama would be wise to follow Boehner's advice immediately and show before the midterm elections that he is ready to embark on a bolder course.

But this is unlikely to happen with a president who took a year to fill two vacancies on the Federal Reserve Board in the midst of our biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression and who is still dithering over a head of the new Consumer Finance Protection Agency, the keystone of his own financial reform Air Max Nike shoes .

But wait, you say, didn't Geithner and Summers manage to avert a financial collapse and a precipitous slide into a new depression? Perhaps. But they essentially implemented policies already decided upon in the previous administration and had a lot of help from Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke. And we'll see about the depression.

The problem is they did not chart a course out of the crisis that fulfilled Obama's promise of bold new policies. Instead, they pushed a series of half measures - an economic stimulus that was too small, a financial reform nike shoes that was too weak - that have produced only a halfway successful recovery that leaves virtually everyone unhappy.

It was a predictable result from policymakers who were instrumental in creating the conditions that led to the financial crisis in the first place. At Treasury during the Clinton administration, Summers was a guiding force in the financial deregulation that led directly to the crisis. Geithner also worked at Treasury then and later, as head of the New York Fed, sat on his hands as banks built up bloated positions in bogus credit default swaps air max classic .

The financial crisis completely discredited these policies and begged for new people with new ideas to take the helm. Instead, Obama turned to two policymakers who had already exhausted their credibility.

It may not be too late to take drastic action. Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz raised the call last week for a change in the economic paradigm.

Citing the failure of reigning economic models to predict the onset or impact of the crisis, Stiglitz concluded in an op-ed in the Financial Times: "Today, not only is our economy in a shambles but so too is the economic paradigm that predominated in the years before the crisis - or at least it should be."

Tweaking these failed models may help temporarily, Stiglitz said, but a long-term cure requires a "paradigm shift."

This is something a president can do. John Kennedy did it when he boldly implemented a Keynesian policy of federal deficits (through tax cuts!) to counter the 1960 recession. nike air classic Lyndon Johnson continued the policies with such success that Time magazine proclaimed in a famous 1965 cover story, "We are all Keynesians now."

Ronald Reagan forcefully championed Milton Friedman's monetarist theories, which, for a time, worked in a different way to support economic growth.

But things change, and the financial crisis demonstrated it is time for a new theory. air max lebron It was, and perhaps still is, Obama's chance to step into Kennedy's and Reagan's shoes and adopt a bold, innovative policy.

What is certain is that this bold initiative won't come from Geithner and Summers. A paradigm shift is probably not what Boehner had in mind, but if Obama wants to salvage his economic policy, he should follow the minority leader's advice and get some new advisers.

Jay-Z has collaborated with Nike to create five pairs of custom shoes for a charity auction.

The rapper, who performed at the opening night of Nike's World Basketball Festival on Thursday, created original Air Force 1 sneakers inspired by the event's five participating countries for the company's All Black Everything range, reports the Daily Star air max 09. Only two pairs of each shoe were created, with one of each being listed on eBay to benefit Jay-Z's Shawn Carter Scholarship foundation.

"We're excited to bring together the international prestige of Jay-Z and the USA Team on stage at famed Radio City Music Hall to open the first World Basketball Festival. nike max air This will be a historic night," said vice president of Nike's Global Brand and Category Management Trevor Edwards in a statement.

"We're also honoured to collaborate with Jay-Z on limited nike airmax 2009 edition Air Force 1's that celebrate the countries participating in this inaugural event."

A female teen claims she was kidnapped Monday morning in the 4500 block of Norman Trail.

The victim says she was approached by four males while walking to school. The suspects forced her into the bed of a truck and attempted to sexually assault her. The victim escaped, and the suspects drove away in what is described as an older, silver Ford pickup. nike shoes The truck is said to have four doors, a small dent on the tailgate, a tinted back window, and a blue tarp in the truck bed.

A sketch of the first suspect is included. He is described as a Hispanic or black male in his early 20s. He is six feet tall with a muscular build, and was last seen wearing a diamond earring in his right ear, a blue baseball cap with a white brim, baggy denim shorts, and red and white Jordan tennis shoes.

Police say the second suspect is a Hispanic male also in his early 20s. air max classic He was last seen wearing yellow or orange “DC” logo shirt,
yellow Nike tennis shoes and a blue baseball cap with a white brim.

The third and fourth suspects are described as Hispanic males in their early 20s, also wearing blue baseball caps with white brims.

Austin police are investigating. nike air classic If you have any information you are asked to call the Child Abuse Unit at 974-6805, Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS or text "Tip 103" + your message to CRIMES. air max lebron You may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000 if your tip leads to an arrest or charges being filed.