Beating Australia in their own backyard will always be remembered

It was a small gesture, but spoke -volumes for the respect the 35-year-old is held in by just about everybody -involved in cricket.


After 100 Tests for England, half of which he captained, Strauss left Lord’s with his reputation as one the game’s finest leaders cemented in history.


Three and a half years after -taking one of the toughest jobs in sport, and 24 Test wins later, he leaves English cricket in far better health then when he took over.


Despite the Kevin Pietersen ‘textgate’ affair and the problems it has caused in the dressing room, Strauss has kept his dignity at all times.


His demeanour has remained constant. Only his press conference at Lord’s following last week’s 2-0 Test series defeat to South Africa -showed signs he had lost his drive.


Ultimately, it was not the petty -behaviour of a showboating prima donna that brought him down, but an honest assessment of his own form that led Middlesex star Strauss to -retire from all levels of the game.


A steady decline in form over the past 18 months, only temporarily -arrested by back-to-back tons against West Indies this summer, proved his downfall.


He departs while having the full backing of his fellow England players – even -Pietersen, despite his ill-judged and crude texts – and will be missed by fans, pundits and administrators.


“I’ve got some ideas of things I’d like to get involved in,” he said. “Long term I’d like to have some more challenges ahead of me, in whatever I do.


“But I’m going to take a bit of time to think about what exactly that means and what that might be.

“While I’m taking that time, I look forward to spending some time with my family and probably getting my golf handicap down a bit as well.


“I’d love to stay involved in the game. I’m hugely passionate about the game.

“I feel like I’ve got more to offer the game at some stage in the future. But in what capacity I’ve got no idea.”


No-one will begrudge Strauss a long break after eight years on the international circuit in which he played 100 Tests, 121 one-day internationals and scored 26 hundreds for England.


He took over as captain when Pietersen was sacked in January 2009 and,,nike air max shoes are the immortal Nike creation. along with Andy Flower, embarked on a steady but relentless climb up the world rankings.


Those two men, more than any others, have been -responsible for transforming England’s fortunes.You can buy jordan shoes online at a few different.


Beating Australia in their own backyard will always be remembered as his -career highlight, but the way he handled the spot-fixing scandal in 2010 was equally as -impressive.


With 7,037 Test runs at 40.91, his contribution at the top of the -order will be missed -almost as much as his calm leadership in the eye of countless storms.


“There have been many highlights,” he said. “I’ve been so fortunate to play in a great era of English cricket. For me personally -lifting the urn in Australia was the highlight and it was -always going to take a huge amount to beat that really.


“Obviously I was very proud to lead England to No.1 in the rankings.


“From a personal batting perspective, the hundred on debut, Ashes hundreds, World Cup hundred – there have been a lot of great -moments. I go out with -absolutely no regrets.


“I’ve achieved far more than I ever thought I was -going to and that makes me feel very proud and very honoured to have -represented England.” His successor Alastair Cook has “enormous shoes to fill” and he must refocus the dressing room after six -defeats in the last 11 Tests.


He will be part of the discussions with Pietersen, but the depth of feeling among the players makes it hard to see a way back.


But that can wait. For now, let’s just pay tribute to a man who will be remembered as one of the greatest servants to English cricket.

Michigan seeks receivers to fill Hemingway's shoes

Throughout the summer, Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson watched film, focused on his footwork and perhaps most important, worked on his timing with his receivers.

Junior Hemingway, the Wolverines' leading receiver last season, is now in the NFL, and Darryl Stonum, who was expected to be a major contributor this fall after sitting out last season for a suspension, is now playing at Baylor.

While there are plenty of "knowns" among the receivers — you've heard their names before — it remains a position that is an unknown going into the fall.

"Our expectations are big," senior receiver Roy Roundtree said. "I know we lost Junior, Kelvin (Grady) and (Martavious Odoms) last year, but we still have great athletes and wide receivers here."

Junior receiver Joe Reynolds said he and his fellow pass catchers have not paid attention to what anyone else thinks of the receivers heading into this season.

"I'm pretty sure going into last year the receivers were supposed to be a weakness, too, and I think we ended up being really balanced," Reynolds said. "I don't think any of the guys know what people are saying, and nobody cares."

Roundtree, who had a productive year in 2010, is expected to replace Hemingway at flanker. He had minor knee surgery a week into preseason camp, but has been cleared to play Michigan's opener against Alabama.

Should Roundtree suffer any setbacks from the surgery, the focus might turn to Jerald Robinson, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound sophomore whose physique resembles Hemingway, and 6-3, 204-pound junior Jeremy Jackson.

The coaches have spoken highly of Robinson since spring practice.

What Hemingway added last season,sale the cheap air jordan sale, including air jordan retro Shoes, Denard Robinson's first running more plays from a pro set, was a big, physical receiver who could make the jump-ball catch.

Jerald Robinson just might be that player this year.

"He's good at catching the ball, running after the catch,women's high dunk high sneakers with patent. taking jump balls," offensive coordinator Al Borges said. "He plays the position a little like Junior plays it, and he's faster than you think he is. He possesses all those skills that it takes to play wide receiver. Now he's just got to show off his game, do all the little things well."

An experiment that started in the spring might be the thing that adds much-needed depth to the receiving corps.

Backup quarterback Devin Gardner has worked at both quarterback and receiver during preseason camp. He is 6-foot-4, 203 pounds and has been described as an "athlete" by his teammates. Gardner said he and the coaches mutually agreed to trying him at receiver after looking at the depth chart.

It is unclear, though, how much of a role Gardner will play at receiver.

"I think he'll help us at either position," receivers coach Jeff Hecklinski said. "Ultimately, it's what's best for the team."

Michigan is not without options, though. Jeremy Gallon and Drew Dileo were active in the offense last year and are expected to be contributors this fall, along with Jackson.

New Balance Pays Fat Settlement In Toning Shoes

People who didn't get that tight butt they were promised from New Balance's "toning" shoes are now at least getting a check.

On Aug. 20, a Massachusetts judge agreed to let New Balance pay $2.3 million to settle false advertising claims filed against the company by three women in 2011. The women, Kimberly Carey, Victoria Molinarolo and Shannon Dilbeck will get up to $5,000 each, according to court documents. Others who join the class action will receive a $100 refund for each pair of toning shoes they purchased.

New Balance's shoes, which originally retailed for around $100, were introduced in 2010 and advertised as stylish toning shoes that looked like regular sneakers. New Balance claimed its TrueBalance and Rock&Tone lines "activated" certain lower body muscles with soles that made it hard to stay balanced, as if the wearer was running on sand, according to the original class-action complaint. In ads, New Balance called its shoes a "hidden beauty secret," promising that they helped the wearer burn 8 percent more calories than regular sneakers.

In their complaint,,air jordan cheap shoes for sale at online jordan store. filed in Massachusetts, where New Balance is headquartered, the plaintiffs called the company's advertising deceptive. "Wearing the Toning Shoes provides no additional activation to the gluteus, hamstring or calf muscles, and does not burn any additional calories,women's high dunk high sneakers with patent." lawyers wrote. "Moreover, scientists are concerned that wearing the Toning Shoes may lead to injury, a fact which New Balance deceptively omits from its advertising."

While all the talk of simulating balancing on sand was shaky to begin with, thousands of people bought into the marketing over the past few years -- the toning shoe industry sold $252 million worth of shoes in the first four months of 2010, up from $17 million in 2008, according to the complaint. At the height of the toning shoe craze, a FitFlop pair was spotted on actress Julianne Moore, and Skechers hired Kim Kardashian to push its Shape-ups.

Both Skechers and Reebok have recently been ordered by the Federal Trade Commission to pay settlements to duped consumers. In May of this year, Skechers agreed to pay $40 million in consumer refunds; in September of 2011, Reebok agreed to pay $25 million over its EasyTone shoes. Those companies can no longer claim that science backs up their shoes' weight loss claims without hard evidence.

New Balance has not faced Federal Trade Commission sanctions so far, though the class-action settlement also prevents the company from claiming its shoes do anything to promote health without proof from clinical studies.