Dein erstes Forum » shaving the grass on the pitch down to 2mm - consider

When Tim Duncan decided to reflect on his outstanding 19-year NBA career, the understated star did it in the most Timmy way possible: seated at a table with a friend from the islands.Two days after the San Antonio Spurs announced his retirement , Duncan told longtime friend Rashidi Clenance that he simply started not enjoying myself as much. It wasnt fun as much. When its not fun anymore, Im done.When the decision was made public, Duncan was hailed as perhaps the greatest power forward the league has ever seen, a five-time champion and unparalleled teammate whose selflessness and determination served as the backbone for the most enduring success story in American sports over the last two decades.Duncan tried to avoid much of the praise, watching former teammate Bruce Bowens tribute on ESPN and coach Gregg Popovichs emotional news conference on Tuesday.I about lost it on that one, Duncan said during the interview streamed online by ViVid Streaming.I didnt expect the response that I got, Duncan said. No, I didnt. Thats the way Im built. I knew that I didnt want to sit there and watch what was being said. Its appreciated, but I just didnt want to watch it.Duncan looked relaxed while doing the interview, seated at the table with a green T-shirt with a picture of Manu Ginobili and himself blocking out. He said there were no immediate plans for the next phase of his life, which is just the way he wants it.Thats the beauty of it. There is no script, Duncan said. For the first time in 20-something years, I dont have a script. I dont have somewhere I have to be and something I have to do. So, I get to go out and enjoy my kids even more. Outside of that, I get to do a little living.Duncan has two children -- son Draven and daughter Sydney -- and for several years has had a side business in San Antonio customizing automobiles.I dont know that they were happy or sad, Duncan said of his children. I think theyre OK with the fact that Im going to be around more and they dont have to compete with the schedule or anything else. So, I think theyre happy about it but theyre sad that they wont be able to go to the games and see me play. Its mixed.Duncan downplayed the significance of his career several times during the interview, consistent with his humble demeanor ever since he was the No. 1 overall pick out of Wake Forest in 1997. He said he never pays attention to comparisons between himself and other all-time greats.I dont really care where the rankings go, he said. Im in the conversation. Im OK with that. Thats above and beyond anything I ever thought Id ever be. That in itself is an honor.Duncan also penned a letter to Spurs fans that was posted on the teams website and said he was taken aback by all of the fawning over the last three days.Luckily Im not dying, he cracked. Im just moving to another chapter.He grew emotional as the interview came to a close.Its been fun, Duncan said, pausing to compose himself. The next chapter will be fun, too. I really enjoyed the ride. I really enjoyed the cheers and the laughs and the highlights and the lowlights, everything that comes with that package. ... No better way to put it than, `Thank you.---AP freelance writer Raul Dominguez in San Antonio contributed to this story. Panthers Jerseys Outlet . As the crowd erupted, Davis knocked the ball off the glass and back into his hands. With 1:14 to go in overtime, Davis sixth block also became his 17th rebound. That, along with his 32 points -- which tied a career high -- proved too much for Denver to overcome, and the Pelicans held on for their third straight victory, 111-107 on Sunday night. Cheap Panthers Jerseys China . Belfort (24-10) needed just 77 seconds to down Henderson in the headlining bout of Saturdays "UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson" event at Goiania Arena in Goiania, Brazil. The fight served as a rematch of the pairs 2006 meeting, which Henderson won by decision. http://www.cheappanthersjerseyselite.com/ . As the crowd erupted, Davis knocked the ball off the glass and back into his hands. With 1:14 to go in overtime, Davis sixth block also became his 17th rebound. That, along with his 32 points -- which tied a career high -- proved too much for Denver to overcome, and the Pelicans held on for their third straight victory, 111-107 on Sunday night. Black Panthers Jerseys Online . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. White Panthers Jerseys . -- Charline Labonte couldnt have asked for a better homecoming. Match factsDecember 15-19, 2016 Start time 1300 local (0300 GMT)Big PictureA day-night Test for Brisbane has been unveiled in order to draw greater crowds to the Gabba, but the combination of the pink ball, floodlights and the grounds often lively pitch will make for a high octane contest between two sides well stocked with speed. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood have both prospered here in the past, the latter notably putting on a sublime display on debut against India to help deliver a victory in Steven Smiths first match as Australian captain. Starc, meanwhile, has been shifting up through the gears since he was rushed back from injury against South Africa, and appears to be finding his very best rhythm in time for Brisbane.Pakistan, of course, have a surfeit of pacemen capable of making the ball bend, in Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Amir a left-arm combination duo capable of reducing any batting order to ruins. Dangerous, too, will be the wristspin of Yasir Shah, on a ground Shane Warne has always professed to love, though Australias batsmen have historically attacked visiting spin bowlers with significant success in Brisbane - just ask Graeme Swann. Critical to the visitors chances of unseating the Australians at a ground they feel more at home at than any other will be the holding of catches - scores went down during the recent series loss in New Zealand, with the fielding coach Steve Rixon trying to rectify that in Australia.While the hosts have plenty of advantages, not least greater experience against the pink ball, it should not be forgotten that Australias confidence is only in the very early stages of restoration, following five consecutive defeats that culminated in the Hobart humiliation. Pakistan, by contrast, were humbled across the Tasman but have a far sturdier record behind them earlier in the year - the share of a series in England to briefly claim the world No. 1 ranking was a remarkable achievement. In what shapes to be one of the captain Misbah-ul-Haqs final series, a victory in Australia would be the sweetest icing on his cake. To start that quest at the Gabba in conditions that will suit his pacemen but challenge his batsmen will turn to be either a blessing or curseForm guide(last five completed matches, most recent first) ? Australia: WLLLL Pakistan: LLLWWIn the spotlightSo far this summer, Usman Khawaja has batted with plenty of determination to succeed, cutting down on some of the more flamboyant strokeplay he offered up last season to become a senior member of the Australian top order. His sound judgment of line will be critical in Brisbane, a ground he knows well as captain of Queensland. It will be up to him, Matt Renshaaw and David Warner to ward off Pakistans considerable new ball threat.dddddddddddd.Before England, before the no-ball, before the prison sentence and the exile from the game, Mohammad Amir came to Australia as a teenager on Pakistans last Test series visit and impressed all with his speed, swing and stamina. Older and wiser, he still has the ability to swing the ball at high pace, and has the potential to cause chaos in the Australian batting order if he gets it right - and if Pakistan are able to hold onto their catches.Teams newsAustralia are set to take an unchanged team into the Gabba Test following their victory, also with the pink ball, over South Africa in Adelaide.Australia (probable) 1 Matt Renshaw, 2 David Warner, 3 Usman Khawaja, 4 Steven Smith (capt), 5 Peter Handscomb, 6 Nic Maddinson, 7 Matthew Wade (wk), 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Josh Hazlewood, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Jackson BirdMisbah-ul-Haq and Yasir Shah were both missing from Pakistans previous Test XI against New Zealand, but both are expected to resume their customary positions in Brisbane.Pakistan (probable) 1 Sami Aslam, 2 Azhar Ali, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Younis Khan, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Asad Shafiq, 7 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 8 Wahab Riaz, 9 Yasir Shah, 10 Mohammad Amir, 11 Rahat AliPitch and conditionsKevin Mitchell Jnr, the Gabba curator, is shaving the grass on the pitch down to 2mm - considerably shorter than for the Adelaide day-night Test and a pretty standard level for any Gabba Test. Pretty well standard, along the same lines as normal, he said. Weve got a reasonable amount of grass cover on the wicket so we think thats going to play the same as a normal day Test.The surface will nonetheless be hard and bouncy with some lateral movement on offer for the pacemen early on. The unknown is how it will play at night - the pink ball can be expected to swing. The weather forecast is fine initially with the chance of some rain over the weekend.Stats and triviaPakistan have never beaten Australia in Brisbane, losing three times and drawing onceThe most recent meeting between the sides was in the first Test of the 1999 series. Australia won by 10 wickets in what was Adam Gilchrists debut matchPakistan drew series in Australia in 1976-77 and 1978-79 but have lost every series since - seven in allQuotesFor us the key is adapting to conditions, and if we can adapt to conditions quick enough well be fine. I constantly remind the players if we can be getting 270, 280, 300, were in the game because weve got the ability to take 20 wickets. Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur ' ' '