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NEW YORK -- The Yankees commemorated Mark Teixeiras eight seasons in pinstripes, a stretch that included a pivotal role in the clubs run to the 2009 World Series championship, with a ceremony at Yankee Stadium before Sundays 5-2 loss?loss to the Baltimore Orioles.On an overcast, 60-degree day -- and with the team out of playoff contention on the final day of the regular season -- the ceremony was sparsely attended, but Teixeira received rousing ovations from the fans both during the ceremony and after his final round of batting practice as a Yankee earlier in the day.It was a little weird, but I think because I dealt with it for the last two months and understood what, I was kind of counting down the days, Teixeira said. I prepared for it, mentally and emotionally. I prepared for it, so it wasnt as weird as I thought it was going to be. It was like, now that day is finally here.Teixeira announced earlier this year he would retire after this season.It was huge, Teixeira said. I wanted to make sure that I got to say goodbye and thank you one last time. I couldnt have asked for anything more but a win. That would have been nice. Absolutely, that would have been nice. But I got a chance to say goodbye, which was very important.Accompanied by his wife, Leigh, and their three young children, Teixeira was honored with a video tribute that featured such highlights as his home run that ended Game 2 of the 2009 American League Division Series against the Minnesota Twins and the game-ending grand slam he hit Wednesday against the Boston Red Sox.He was recognized for his charitable work with Harlem RBI, to which he has made sizable monetary donations, and was presented with a framed replica of his No. 25 jersey by Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner. He also received a base that was signed by all of his teammates;?CC Sabathia and Brett Gardner, the only remaining members of the 2009 championship team on the Yankees roster, presented it.Teixeira, who was batting fifth and playing first base, grounded out in his first at-bat, but he made a sparkling play, diving to rob Matt Wieters of a potential double, to lead off the second inning.He was removed from the game with one out in the seventh inning and received a standing ovation from the home crowd. After tipping his cap, he received hugs and congratulations in the dugout.?Tyler Austin?took over at first base.I told Joe, listen, I wouldnt be able to top what happened on Wednesday night no matter what, Teixeira said of Yankees manager Joe Girardi. So knowing that, after my third at-bat I let him know. Whatever happened. If I hit a home run, I probably would have left after that home run, but after the third at-bat, I told him I was ready. He came out after the seventh and said lets get one out. He took me out.In his eight seasons with the Yankees, Teixeira batted .248 with 206 home runs, 622 RBIs and an .823 OPS. Overall, he was a .269 career hitter with 409 home runs (he is one of only five switch-hitters in baseball history with at least 400 home runs), 1,298 RBIs and an OPS of .870. He is also a three-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove winner at first base.Teixeira played his first four seasons for the Rangers, split 2007 with Texas and the Braves and spent 2008 with Atlanta and the?Los Angeles Angels.But he said he would always be a Yankee.Theyre the team that Ill always be remembered for, I think, Teixeira said. In my mind, Im going to live here for a really, really long time and be coming to Yankee Stadium and take my kids to games here. Hopefully, if they honor the 2009 World Series sometime soon, Ill be back with all my old teammates.Fake Soccer Jerseys For Sale . 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Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter.There is a lot for Italian rugby fans to be happy about after Conor OSheas first outings at the helm of the national team.The rejuvenated Azzurri lost in Argentina despite playing a solid game, then won (ugly) against the U.S. and Canada to at least end their first tour under their new head coach with a positive record. Winning is key, of course, but there is more to it than that.Over the past three weeks, Italy has welcomed back its scrum -- comfortable even against a Rugby Championship-ready Pumas side -- regained those abrasive drives from mauls and, finally, rediscovered the fierce defence that was a foundation of the historic results of 2013, when they beat Ireland and France to finish fourth in the Six Nations.Without some of his most valuable senators (Alessandro Zanni, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Francesco Minto, Michele Rizzo and, crucially, captain Sergio Parisse) and with other key elements of the group out through injury, OShea apparently found what his predecessors couldnt spot: new raw talent to start moulding for international rugby.The group is widening at an impressive rate and thats the real plus for a nation left at its lowest ebb of the professional era after last years Rugby World Cup.OShea introduced some youngsters in Maxime Mbanda, Sami Panico, Sebastian Negri, Tommaso Boni and Tommaso Castello and they all made their debuts in admirable style. Props Andrea Lovotti and Pietro Ceccarelli, and hooker Ornel Gega - all called up in the last part of the Jacques Brunel era - were instrumental against Argentina and in the much-needed wins in North America. The dynamic Lovotti, in particular, seems to be the real deal that Italy was waiting for since the retirement of beloved former international looseheads Andrea Lo Cicero and Salvatore Perugini.Add to the above the performance at the recent Under-20 World Championship of skipper Marco Riccioni -- a kid that has the potential to be Italys next Martin Castrogiovanni - and things look bright for OShea in the front row for the foreseeable future.Fly-half Carlo Canna is rapidly growing in personality and awareness and is now the stable first choice at No.10. Reliable from the tee - unlike Tommaso Allan, especially in decisive phases of matches - and increasingly keen on exploring the gaps he finds in the opposition lines, he was a key part of Italian tour success. At 23, iit is amazing he was introduced so late in the national setup.ddddddddddddBut there remains a lot of work for OShea and his staff, too, specifically with ball-carriers and the tactical kicking game.Apart from South African-born duo Dries Van Schaklwyk and Quinti Geldenhuys, both in their thirties, Italy is missing big, powerful, industrious back rowers who can break the line simply by running straight. Think Billy Vunipola with England or Wales Taulupe Faletau as just two examples from Six Nations rivals. Some 6 feet 6 inches, 110 kilogramme-plus locks would not go amiss either. Size does matter, but there is nobody of that ilk at present in Italian rugby at any level.The other hole (and it is a huge one) is the tactical kicking game. It created a lot of problems under former coaches Pierre Berbizier and Nick Mallett, it was one of the top urgencies when Brunel came on board yet it remains an unresolved problem.With the recent retirement of Andrea Masi, things got even more complicated. At the moment Luke McLean is the only player in the entire 40-man senior group to have the skills required by an international No.15 -- and his best performances came at wing. His positional sense and kicking range assure him of a place in the starting XV as there is no-one close.David Odiete is not yet an international winger. He is learning the fullback position he occupied at juniors level but still needs to grow in tactical wisdom and reliability. The electric Under-20 Matteo Minozzi seems to have skills and potential but may pay a huge price to the physical challenge required in modern rugby.The first thing OShea pointed out when appointed in March was that Italian players were not fit enough to compete at international level. It manifests itself physically and mentally. If the Azzurri are to contest every match against the top nations, they must execute properly for the full 80 minutes. Consider that this is a country that historically lives on passion and invention, and you can see why every coach before OShea has come up short.So, yes, fitness is the first step. But it is consistency that has to be the ultimate goal. After all, the risk of getting hammered by a fast-growing Tier 2 nation has never been so high. ' ' '