Twenty years since end of the strike

<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> This week marks the 20-year anniversary of the end of perhaps baseball's worst stretch, when the 1994-95 strike canceled a World Series, alienated fans, led to Montreal losing the Expos, prompted Bud Selig and the owners to use replacement players, convinced Michael Jordan to end his baseball career and forced some striking players to take other jobs. Jobs such as stocking shelves at K-Mart, Mike Gallego says.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Really? K-Mart? A major leaguer who competed in three World Series stocked shelves for minimum wage?</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "Seriously," said Gallego, now a coach with the Athletics. "That was a tough gig. I couldn't wait for baseball to get started. Baseball was a lot easier than that, I'll tell you that right now. I had to get up at like 3 in the morning and get there and make sure all the things were stocked ... toys, clothing, food, everything.</div> <div class="mod-inline image image-right" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-left-color: rgb(194, 194, 194); border-left-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; color: #333333; float: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"> <a class="enlarge" credit="John Leyba/Getty Images" href="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2015/0321/mlb_g_hawkins1x_600x400.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #999999; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[+] Enlarge<img alt="LaTroy Hawkins" border="0" height="200" src="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2015/0321/mlb_g_hawkins1x_300x200.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 4px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="300" /></a><div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"> <cite style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #ababab; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 4px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">John Leyba/Getty Images</cite>LaTroy Hawkins, currently the oldest player in the majors at 42, began his career in the big leagues with the Twins after the strike ended in 1995.</div> </div> </div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "It was like, 'Here's your pallet! Those pallets in the corner are yours, load them up!' It was serious work. My kids can't believe it."</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Gallego said he did so because there was no money coming in and because he didn't know how long the strike would last, wanted some walking-around money and needed something to do. "It didn't pay much, but it put things in perspective, that's for sure," he said. "When you've got a family, you've got to do what you gotta do."</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> While some players took odd jobs and others simply stayed on strike, the major league teams went ahead with spring training in 1995 by signing borderline players, some of whom had been working Wal-Mart-equivalent jobs as warehouse workers, security guards, firefighters, bartenders, painters, etc. These were the infamous replacement players who took the field in Arizona and Florida that February and March.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> The replacement players ranged from former major leaguers trying to restore careers, such as Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd, to some future big leaguers, such as Kevin Millar and Brendan Donnelly, to the more numerous players who never came close to the majors.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Pitcher Steve Otto, for instance, hadn't played professionally in four years, had never played beyond Class A and was working for Minnesota-based Ecolab. After having attended a tryout, he came home to find a message on his answering machine from Twins general manager Terry Ryan inviting him to spring training. "Oh, my God," Otto thought. "I'm saving this tape forever."</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Otto accepted the invitation and left for Florida, using the two weeks of vacation he had coming to cover part of his spring training expenses. He wasn't trying to upset the players' union. He was just looking for another opportunity to play the game he loved so much.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "My wife said 'You have to go and try it,'" Otto recalled. "We didn't have children, so it wasn't like I was risking a lot. When you have a real job and you have to wear a suit and tie, and then you get to go play baseball, you realize how lucky you are to do that."</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> The talent of the replacement players wasn't high, though not all understood what their actual level was. One player, as longtime Oakland equipment manager Steve Vucinich recalls, said he was going to live on the other side of the bay so that when the regular major leaguers finally reported, he and Rickey Henderson could commute together. "Like he was going to make the team and be a teammate of Rickey Henderson," Vucinich said.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Cubs manager Joe Maddon was in charge of organizing the Angels' spring training for the first time that season. He says the obvious difference was between having average everyday major league players in camp "and a guy who could possibly play once every two or three weeks at the major league level. Or not at all."</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> The teams may have been signing replacement players, but not everyone in management went along with this strategy.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Detroit manager Sparky Anderson refused to manage replacement players that spring. Baltimore owner Peter Angelos not only refused to sign replacements for spring training, he insisted the Orioles would not play replacement games in the regular season. Angelos was a labor lawyer, so using replacements was anathema to him. Plus, a season with replacement players would have ended Cal Ripken Jr.'s consecutive games playing streak just before he was about to break Lou Gehrig's record.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Not that the managers and coaches who worked with the replacements enjoyed the idea, either. Bruce Bochy was just starting his career as a big league manager with the Padres. "It wasn't a fun time, I'll say that," Bochy said. "Fortunately, [Padres then-general manager] Randy Smith allowed me to back away from it but it's not a time we care to reflect on, to be honest."</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Otto had not played beyond Class A, but said being a few years older might have helped make him better that year. He enjoyed spring training -- he even fondly recalls the soggy Blimpie submarine sandwiches the team ate for lunch each day -- but when his two weeks of vacation ran out, his Ecolab employer declined to give him a leave of absence. He was forced to either leave spring training or quit his job. He chose to quit his job and stayed with baseball.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> The real players refused to capitulate, as well. They were not going to "cross the line."</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "I remember sitting down and having a conversation with my grandfather because he was a union guy," said <a href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/3176/latroy-hawkins" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">LaTroy Hawkins</a>, then with Minnesota. "He was a steel mill guy. I didn't know about strikes and he told me about guys crossing the lines and how it was something you can never even consider doing."</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Current managers Lloyd McClendon and Bob Melvin were near the end of their playing careers at the time. Without contracts, each was asked by organizations to cross the line, but neither even considered it. "I wasn't going there," Melvin said. "There was no way."</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Cubs broadcaster Ron Coomer, who was in the Dodgers organization at the time, said Los Angeles put a lot of pressure on minor leaguers to cross the line and play (which he did not). It was an especially difficult situation for minor leaguers who weren't on the 40-man roster but occasionally were asked to play in the replacement games. They weren't in the union, but they didn't want to go against the union either. Yet they also didn't want to upset the team employing them and dictating their careers.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "It put them in a terrible position," Coomer said. "It was really unfortunate for some of those young guys. ... It was just a terrible situation for everybody. I think ownership handled it poorly. I think the players' union handled it poorly, because everyone was put in a tough spot and some of those young players ended up getting the brunt of all the issues that happened."</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Others suffered in different ways. Ron Gardenhire, then the Twins' third base coach, had his Achilles tendon torn by a replacement player who rounded the bag too wide and stepped on his lower calf. He missed three months of the season due to the injury.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <blockquote class="mod-quote-box quote-box-left mod-inline" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-color: rgb(194, 194, 194); border-right-style: solid; border-width: 0px 1px 0px 0px; float: left; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.6200008392334px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px 0px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: 261.890625px;"> <span class="quote-start" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #aaaaaa; float: left; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 60px; font-weight: bold; height: 20px; line-height: 40px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“</span><div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 7px 10px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> I remember sitting down and having a conversation with my grandfather because he was a union guy. He was a steel mill guy. I didn't know about strikes and he told me about guys crossing the lines and how it was something you can never even consider doing.</div> <div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 7px 10px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span class="quote-end" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #aaaaaa; float: right; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 60px; height: 20px; line-height: 40px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">”</span><cite style="background: transparent; border: 0px; clear: right; display: block; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px 10px 0px; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline;">- LaTroy Hawkins</cite></div> </blockquote> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> And then there was Michael Jordan, who also refused to play with the replacements during spring training in the White Sox minor league camp. Instead, he left the Sox and returned to the NBA, announcing in a fax "I'm back!"</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> The major leaguers, however, were not back. Just days to go until the scheduled Opening Day, the teams still were preparing to begin the season with replacements. The Giants and Athletics left their spring training sites in Arizona to play the annual Bay Bridge exhibition series in San Francisco and Oakland. Because it was the first time any of the replacements had ever played in a televised game, many asked Vucinich for videotapes of the game.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> As an appeal by the major leaguers went to U.S. district court at the end of March, the replacement players watched ESPN each night for updates.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "I think we knew deep-down that the strike would end," Otto said, "but we just hoped that maybe it would extend a few extra days and give us a chance to play in those parks like Fenway and Yankee Stadium [where the Twins were scheduled to open the season]."</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> The Friday before the scheduled opener, now-Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor ruled in federal district court on behalf of the players, effectively ending the strike. "Some say that Judge Sotomayor saved baseball," President Barack Obama said when he nominated her to the Supreme Court in 2009.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> She did not save the careers of the replacement players, though.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Teams bid a quick goodbye to the replacements, paying each $5,000 for their time. The Twins replacement players ate pizza from cardboard boxes while waiting for the traveling secretary to arrange their flights home. Mariners manager Lou Piniella had not been in favor of replacement players -- at one point, he was angered by how they were overeating the food provided in the clubhouse -- yet felt so bad when he had to break the news to them that he teared up.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> One player went into Tony La Russa's office and slapped a tape recorder on his desk. When La Russa, then the manager of the A's, asked why, the player said, "I always wanted a recording of me being cut by Tony La Russa."</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Otto says Ecolab offered him another job after the strike ended, but he was so caught up by the game again that he decided to instead pursue his passion further by working as a baseball instructor. He spent the next decade teaching kids from age 5 to high school how to pitch. He eventually returned to Ecolab, where he now works.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> And yes, he still has the answering machine tape of Ryan inviting him to spring training.</div> <h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Getting back on the field</h3> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Spring training with the real players resumed days after the strike ended, but camps were reduced from the standard six weeks to just three weeks. Because of the shortened spring, clubs opened the season with expanded rosters, which benefited Hawkins.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "I only made the [the Twins' roster] out of spring training because of the expanded roster," Hawkins said.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> At least Hawkins, currently the oldest player in the majors at 42, opened the 1995 season in the big leagues. Other players weren't so fortunate -- and we're not talking about the replacements. Many veteran players didn't have contracts because of the strike, so baseball held a free-agent camp in Homestead, Florida. Among those hoping for a contract were Dave Stewart, Andy Van Slyke, Frank Viola and McClendon. When a player signed with a team, the tape with his name on the locker was removed and attached to a pole with other such fortunate players. "You aspired to be one of those guys," Melvin said.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> When Opening Day arrived, there still were 20 players left unsigned in the free-agent camp. Exactly one fan watched them that day, along with two reporters; there were no scouts. Responding to a comment that they were like the kids no one picked to play at recess, McClendon replied, "That's a good analogy, but it goes a little deeper than that. They can at least stick those kids in right field."</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> The Adirondack Lumberjacks, an independent minor league team, sent letters to the remaining players, offering opportunities with the team that probably paid less than $1,000 a month. "If you are still without a job by June 1st, you are welcome to come to the Adirondacks where there are plenty of lakes, golfing, fishing and more, in a comfortable small town atmosphere," the letters read.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Well, it probably beat stocking shelves at K-Mart.</div>

BASEBALL Twenty years since end of the strike

This week marks the 20-year anniversary of the end of perhaps baseball's worst stretch, when the 1994-95 strike canceled a World Series, alienated fans, led to Montreal losing the Expos, prompted Bud Selig and the owners to use replacement players, …

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Police: Eloi Vasquez killed by car

<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> LOS ANGELES -- A Cal Golden Bears soccer player who disappeared after a weekend party was killed by a car as he ran across a Los Angeles freeway, police said Monday.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Eloi Vasquez, a 19-year-old freshman, died early Saturday on eastbound Interstate 10 about a mile from USC after he was seen leaving a fraternity party, the California Highway Patrol said.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> A woman said a man ran in front of her and she was unable to avoid hitting him, said Officer Edgar Figueroa, a CHP spokesman. The man was struck just east of Vermont Avenue. The investigation is ongoing.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Vasquez was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not carrying identification, which set off a missing persons search until the coroner could identify him.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Coroner's officials worked with the CHP and Los Angeles police, determining that the man struck on the freeway was likely Vasquez because of where he was found and his age, Figueroa said. But fingerprinting of the teenager did not immediately yield any matches to criminal or other databases, coroner's spokesman Craig Harvey said. He was ultimately identified via a fingerprint match with the Department of Motor Vehicles, but only after the spelling of his name was clarified.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Vasquez, who was on spring break in Los Angeles, had left the party to take a walk with no money and no wallet, family and police said.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> His mother, Wendy Margolin, said he later called a friend, telling her he was lost and in trouble.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Figueroa did not know whether Vasquez had alcohol or drugs in his system. Toxicology screens to detect substances usually take weeks to complete.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> The family had offered a $100,000 reward for information about his whereabouts.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "Needless to say, we are heartbroken, we are devastated upon finding out this news," Wesley Mallette, associate athletic director at the Berkeley campus, said at a news conference.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "Eloi Vasquez was a wonderful young man, a fantastic student-athlete, dedicated and devoted to everything he did."</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Vasquez's soccer teammates at Cal were informed of his death at a meeting that lasted more than an hour.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Vasquez had traveled with other teammates to Southern California for the break and was supposed to return Monday to resume the semester, coach Kevin Grimes said.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "Eloi was a wonderful teammate. He was very close to all of his players," Grimes said. "Our guys are grieving pretty hard right now."</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Vasquez, a freshman midfielder, had hurt his knee during the year and was still recovering from surgery in December. He played in 12 games for Cal last season, recording three assists.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> His coach described him as one of the hardest workers on the team and said he always stayed after practice. His youth soccer coaches would have to change the lock on the equipment shed to ensure he didn't work too hard on his own, Grimes said.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "When you combine his talent level with that mentality, it was a safe bet that he was headed to the MLS," Grimes said.</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> The school's athletic department remembered Vasquez on Twitter:</div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <img alt="View image on Twitter" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CBYjtHCU8AAfTvP.jpg" /></div>

SOCCER Police: Eloi Vasquez killed by car

LOS ANGELES -- A Cal Golden Bears soccer player who disappeared after a weekend party was killed by a car as he ran across a Los Angeles freeway, police said Monday. Eloi Vasquez, a 19-year-old freshman, died early Saturday on eastbound Interstate 1…

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Radamel Falcao scores penalty in Colombia's victory; Qatar win again

<figure style="-webkit-transition: margin 0.25s; background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 44px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: margin 0.25s;"><img src="http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i/?img=/photo/2015/0330/soc_g_falcao_b1_1296x729.jpg&w=738&site=espnfc" style="-webkit-transition: width 0.25s; border: 0px; transition: width 0.25s; width: 643px;" width="738" /><figcaption style="border-bottom-color: rgb(241, 241, 241); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: BentonSans; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; padding: 22px 0px 24px;">Radamel Falcao scored his third goal in two games to help Colombia defeat Kuwait.</figcaption></figure><div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> Radamel Falcao went within one goal of <span style="font-family: BentonSansBold;">Colombia</span>'s scoring record by netting a penalty on Monday to complete a <a href="http://www.espnfc.us/gamecast/418403/gamecast.html" style="color: #1eb848; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">3-1 victory</a> over <span style="font-family: BentonSansBold;">Kuwait</span> in a friendly.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> Abel Aguilar opened the scoring with a volley in the 22nd minute, but Mesaed Al Enzi equalised following a corner on the stroke of half-time.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> After the break, Edwin Cardona put Colombia ahead with a 30-yard blast, and Falcao, who also scored twice against Bahrain last week, drew a penalty on the edge of the box before converting the final goal.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> Falcao's goal was his 24th goal for his country, one shy of the record held for 24 years by Arnoldo Iguaran.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> Some outlets, including Falcao's club Manchester United, earlier reported that Falcao had matched the record, but a senior goal scored by Iguaran in the Copa America -- albeit with an under-23 Colombia squad -- gives him 25 goals.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> <span style="font-family: BentonSansBold;">Qatar</span> won their second friendly in a week, edging <span style="font-family: BentonSansBold;">Slovenia</span> <a href="http://www.espnfc.us/gamecast/statistics/id/418436/statistics.html" style="color: #1eb848; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">1-0</a>.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> Four days after the 2022 World Cup hosts defeated Algeria 1-0, they did the same to Slovenia, who qualified for the 2010 World Cup, thanks to Abdulkarim Fadlalla's goal a minute after half-time.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> <span style="font-family: BentonSansBold;">Australia</span> followed up their draw in Germany last week with another in<span style="font-family: BentonSansBold;">Macedonia</span>, this one <a href="http://www.espnfc.us/gamecast/416635/gamecast.html" style="color: #1eb848; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">ending goalless</a>.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> Australia controlled the majority of play but could not find a finishing touch in the final third as the hosts sat back.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> <span style="font-family: BentonSansBold;">Cameroon</span> rallied from two goals down to win 3-2 in <span style="font-family: BentonSansBold;">Thailand</span>.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> After Prakit Deeporm and and own goal by Aurelien Chedjou had spotted the hosts a two-goal lead, Benjamin Moukandjo cut the deficit in half shortly before the break.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> A penalty from Clinton Njie followed, and Ngweni Ndasi Kadiang scored the winner in the 88th minute.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> <span style="font-family: BentonSansBold;">Algeria</span> scored in the second minute and defeated <span style="font-family: BentonSansBold;">Oman</span> 4-1 on the back of two goals each from Ishak Belffdil and Sofiane Feghouli in a match in Qatar.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> <span style="font-family: BentonSansBold;">Belarus</span> and <span style="font-family: BentonSansBold;">Gabon </span>played to a goalless draw in a European-African matchup.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> Aristide Bance and Issoufou Dayo scored for <span style="font-family: BentonSansBold;">Burkina Faso</span> in a 2-1 win in<span style="font-family: BentonSansBold;">Morocco</span>.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> <span style="font-family: BentonSansBold;">Saudi Arabia </span>striker Mohammad Al-Sahlawi scored two late goals, including a penalty in the 96th minute, to rally his side to a 2-1 win over <span style="font-family: BentonSansBold;">Jordan</span>.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> <span style="font-family: BentonSansBold;">Bahrain </span>hung on for a 2-1 win over the <span style="font-family: BentonSansBold;">Philippines </span>after first-half goals from set pieces by Faouzi Mubarak and Abdulla Yaser. Manny Ott's fine consolation goal was not enough for the visitors.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> Raphael Maitimo and Cristian Gonzales scored in the second half to lift<span style="font-family: BentonSansBold;">Indonesia</span> to a 2-1 win over <span style="font-family: BentonSansBold;">Myanmar</span>, Htan David netting a late equaliser for the visitors.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> Orlando City rookie Cyle Larin scored his first goal for <span style="font-family: BentonSansBold;">Canada</span>, who cruised to a 3-0 win in <span style="font-family: BentonSansBold;">Puerto Rico</span>. Tosaint Ricketts and Randy Edwini-Bonsu also found the net in Canada's first win away from home since 2012.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> <span style="font-family: BentonSansBold;">Jamaica</span> did all their scoring in the first half as they defeated <span style="font-family: BentonSansBold;">Cuba</span> 3-0 with goals from Daniel Gordon, Romeo Parkes and Darren Mattocks.</div>

SOCCER Radamel Falcao scores penalty in Colombia's victory; Qatar win again

Radamel Falcao scored his third goal in two games to help Colombia defeat Kuwait. Radamel Falcao went within one goal of Colombia's scoring record by netting a penalty on Monday to complete a 3-1 victory over Kuwait in a friendly. Abel Aguilar opened…

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Wayne Rooney warns Harry Kane against frustration vs. Italy

<div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> Wayne Rooney has warned England striker Harry Kane that Italy's defenders will "do anything to try and stop you."</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> Rooney had a hard time against Giorgio Chiellini during England's 2-1 World Cup defeat to Italy in Manaus last summer and on Tuesday the Juventus defender will be accompanied by Andrea Ranocchia and Leonardo Bonucci.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> The <i>Azzurri </i>have conceded just four goals since the World Cup and Rooney feels Kane will face possibly his toughest test yet.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> "With Italian defenders, especially the clever defenders, they'll do anything to try and stop you," Rooney said. "I think Italy's a passionate country. They love their football, they are probably the closest in Europe to South American teams.</div> <figure style="-webkit-transition: margin 0.25s; background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 44px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: margin 0.25s;"><img src="http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i/?img=/photo/2014/0614/soc_g_rooney11_1296x729.jpg&w=738&site=espnfc" style="-webkit-transition: width 0.25s; border: 0px; transition: width 0.25s; width: 643px;" width="738" /><figcaption style="border-bottom-color: rgb(241, 241, 241); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: BentonSans; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; padding: 22px 0px 24px;">Wayne Rooney and England lost 2-1 last summer.</figcaption></figure><div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> "They're tough to play against, well-organised, they make it as difficult as they can for us. Italy are the best in Europe at doing that.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> "You need to be aware of that and not get frustrated. At the minute what Harry is doing he needs to continue doing.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> "He's taking the ball, he's a handful for defenders, he's running at the defenders and getting shots off at goal.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> "That's all he has to do tomorrow. I'm sure if he does that the way he has been, he'll be fine."</div>

SOCCER Wayne Rooney warns Harry Kane against frustration vs. Italy

Wayne Rooney has warned England striker Harry Kane that Italy's defenders will "do anything to try and stop you." Rooney had a hard time against Giorgio Chiellini during England's 2-1 World Cup defeat to Italy in Manaus last summer and on Tuesday th…

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Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge in fitness race to face Arsenal

<div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> Liverpool will give Daniel Sturridge a chance to prove he can overcome a thigh injury and play in Saturday's Premier League match at Arsenal.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> The club's medical staff have looked at the problem and feel that he could play against Arsenal, sources have told ESPN FC.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> However, he will not be risked if manager Brendan Rodgers feels that there is a danger of aggravating the injury.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> Sturridge <a href="http://www.espnfc.us/england/story/2363871/daniel-sturridge-pulls-out-of-england-squad-because-of-injury" style="color: #1eb848; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">withdrew from the England squad</a> for matches against Lithuania and Italy after tearing a hip muscle.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> The 25-year-old suffered the injury during Liverpool's 2-1 Premier League defeat at home to Manchester United on March 22.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> He reported at England's training camp the following day to be assessed, with scans showing the seriousness of the injury.</div> <figure style="-webkit-transition: margin 0.25s; background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 44px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: margin 0.25s;"><img src="http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i/?img=/photo/2015/0316/soc_g_sturridge01jr_B_1296x729.jpg&w=738&site=espnfc" style="-webkit-transition: width 0.25s; border: 0px; transition: width 0.25s; width: 643px;" width="738" /><figcaption style="border-bottom-color: rgb(241, 241, 241); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: BentonSans; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; padding: 22px 0px 24px;">Daniel Sturridge could feature against Arsenal if there is no risk of further injury.</figcaption></figure><div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> Rodgers' side go into the Arsenal game lying fifth in the Premier League, five points behind Manchester United in fourth, and six adrift of the Gunners in third.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> Sturridge has been beset by injuries this season, beginning with a thigh problem suffered during an England training session on Sept. 5.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> He was close to a comeback when he then sustained a calf problem during a Liverpool practice session on Oct. 16, and a second thigh injury while training with his club on Nov. 18.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> Those three injuries kept Sturridge out of action for almost five months, and he did not return until the Reds' Premier League home match against West Ham on Jan. 31, scoring in a 2-0 win.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> Winger Raheem Sterling, meanwhile, will be available for the match against Arsenal despite a toe injury.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> Sterling was <a href="http://www.espnfc.us/england/story/2369347/danny-welbeck-will-miss-england-friendly-vs-italy-raheem-sterling-excused-says-roy-hodgson" style="color: #1eb848; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">given permission to miss England's friendly</a> against Italy in Turin on Tuesday, having played as Lithuania were beaten 4-0 in a Euro 2016 qualifier at Wembley last Friday.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> But despite the toe injury, which has been troubling him in recent weeks, the 20-year-old is set to train as normal with his club this week.</div>

SOCCER Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge in fitness race to face Arsenal

Liverpool will give Daniel Sturridge a chance to prove he can overcome a thigh injury and play in Saturday's Premier League match at Arsenal. The club's medical staff have looked at the problem and feel that he could play against Arsenal, sources ha…

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Agent of PSV star Memphis Depay denies contact with Manchester United

<h1 style="-webkit-font-feature-settings: 'kern' 1, 'liga' 1, 'case' 1; -webkit-transition: color 0.2s; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSansBold, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 44px; margin: 30px 0px; transition: color 0.2s;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><img src="http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i/?img=/photo/2015/0302/fc-depay-jd-1296x729.jpg&w=738&site=espnfc" style="-webkit-transition: width 0.25s; border: 0px; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; transition: width 0.25s; width: 643px;" width="738" /></span></h1> <div class="body full" style="color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"> <div class="above-fold"> <figure style="-webkit-transition: margin 0.25s; margin: 44px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: margin 0.25s;"><figcaption style="border-bottom-color: rgb(241, 241, 241); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: BentonSans; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; padding: 22px 0px 24px;">Recent reports indicate talented winger Memphis Depay will be one of Louis van Gaal's top targets this summer.</figcaption></figure><div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> The agent of Dutch international midfielder Memphis Depay has dismissed reports that talks have already taken place ahead of the PSV Eindhoven star making a lucrative move to Manchester United this summer.</div> <div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> Depay has been rumoured to be a target for the Old Trafford club since Louis van Gaal arrived as the United manager last summer, with his long-standing admiration for the talented winger cemented as the 21-year-old made a mark in the team he led to a third-place finish in last summer's World Cup finals.</div> <div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> Fresh reports emerged on Monday in England's <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/11505411/Manchester-United-transfer-news-Louis-van-Gaal-wants-Holland-and-PSV-star-Memphis-Depay-to-lift-attack.html" style="color: #1eb848; text-decoration: none;">Daily Telegraph newspaper suggesting Depay will be a top target for Van Gaal and United</a> in the upcoming transfer window, but his adviser Kees Ploegsma has told Danish publication PLBOLD that no contact has been made with the Premier League club.</div> <div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> "No, there has been a lot of rumors, but he still has a contract with PSV, so for now he is in Eindhoven," <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/memphis-depay-no-contact-manchester-5429989" style="color: #1eb848; text-decoration: none;">he is reported to have said, in comments appearing in the Daily Mirror</a>. "We have not been in contact with any clubs.</div> <div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> "They [Depay and Van Gaal] had good contact during the World Cup, but since then there has been no contact."</div> <div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> Ploegsma may have inadvertently helped to fuel suggestions that Depay will be making a move this summer as his comments appear to be lacking a little conviction that his player will stay in Holland, while PSV boss Philip Cocu has already gone public in his belief that his star turn will be leaving the club at the end of this season.</div> <div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> Meanwhile, the Daily Telegraph is reporting that Van Gaal is planning another overhaul of his squad next summer as he looks to move the club back into trophy contention, with four new faces tipped to arrive at the club for a campaign that they will be hoping includes a return to the Champions League.</div> <div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> United get a chance to cement their five point lead over fourth placed Liverpool when they entertain Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Saturday, with Brendan Rodgers Reds facing a tough trip to take on Arsenal on the same day.</div> </div> </div>

SOCCER Agent of PSV star Memphis Depay denies contact with Manchester United

Recent reports indicate talented winger Memphis Depay will be one of Louis van Gaal's top targets this summer. The agent of Dutch international midfielder Memphis Depay has dismissed reports that talks have already taken place ahead of the PSV Eindh…

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Man United boss Louis Van Gaal insists he's 'flexible' and not a dicator

<div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> Louis van Gaal is adamant he is no dictator -- as Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney described his manager as a nice guy.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> The 63-year-old has a reputation as an autocrat but Van Gaal insists he is flexible in both his footballing and his private life.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> And the former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager said he will change his methods and his approach if his coaching staff or his players ask him to.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> "I am a very flexible man," he <a href="http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Club-News/2015/Mar/louis-van-gaal-documentary-on-mutv-monday-30-march.aspx" style="color: #1eb848; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">told MUTV</a>. "[People] are always thinking I am a boss, maybe a dictator. I am not like that. I am a very flexible man. My wife does know that."</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> Van Gaal has won league titles in three other countries and took Netherlands to the third place in the World Cup but said he is determined to do things differently at Old Trafford.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> "You have to evaluate and adapt to the culture of the club," he explained. "The way I work here with Manchester United is different to the way I worked with Bayern Munich or the Dutch national team.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> "There are lot of aspects in my philosophy I shall stick to but a lot I shall change and it can only change because of the members of my staff or my players. They can change my thoughts. We have to wait and see how many aspects I have changed after one year."</div> <figure style="-webkit-transition: margin 0.25s; background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 44px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: margin 0.25s;"><img src="http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i/?img=/photo/2015/0316/soc_g_vanGaal_d1_1296x729.jpg&w=738&site=espnfc" style="-webkit-transition: width 0.25s; border: 0px; transition: width 0.25s; width: 643px;" width="738" /><figcaption style="border-bottom-color: rgb(241, 241, 241); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-family: BentonSans; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; padding: 22px 0px 24px;">Louis van Gaal says there is nothing firm behind his reputation as a 'dictator.'</figcaption></figure><div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> Van Gaal said he was persuaded to stay on as AZ Alkmaar manager in 2008 when he wanted to resign, leading to him winning the Dutch title and then getting the Bayern job.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> "In my four years [there], were the first year second, the second year second, in the third year 13th and I wanted to go away," he said. "The players came to my house and asked me to stay and then the next year we were champions."</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> While Van Gaal has been accused of arrogance, Rooney has found him a pleasant person who is willing to listen.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> "He is very approachable," he explained. "He always says to his players you can go and talk to him, whether it is about football or other things.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #282a2f; font-family: BentonSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-top: 36px;"> "He is 100 percent serious when it comes to training but if you are speaking to him about other things, he is a genuinely nice guy. He is someone that as a player, you can trust."</div>

SOCCER Man United boss Louis Van Gaal insists he's 'flexible' and not a dicator

Louis van Gaal is adamant he is no dictator -- as Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney described his manager as a nice guy. The 63-year-old has a reputation as an autocrat but Van Gaal insists he is flexible in both his footballing and his private…

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