MLB and other sports misc.

Hi. First, an article with a quote from Nationals general manager Jim Bowden about their 3rd baseman Ryan Zimmerman:

"...I don't believe in rushing players to the big leagues. But he was just special -- special makeup, special character to go along with a real player who knows how to play the game the right way. He knows how to live life the right way. We are blessed. He is a centerpiece we can build around."

Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070109&content_id=1776252&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

Here's a quote from Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez about his rehab from shoulder surgery:

"Thanks to God, everything has gone perfect," he said. "I'm working hard. It's a long period of time, but it's paying off. Right now I'm good weight, good health, my range of motion is really good, so I'm very optimistic."

Here's the article: http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/ny-spmets115048034jan11,0,6511198.story?coll=ny-mets-print (originally at http://mlbplayers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070112&content_id=1778220&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp).

Next, a quote from Cardinals reliever Randy Flores about the new contract that he signed this off-season:

Your thoughts on getting a deal done (avoiding arbitration). Obviously it's a two-year deal and the first time you can kind of go, "OK, I'm going to be here …""It's a definite blessing. To be 31 years old and to have it be the first contract I've negotiated is kind of surreal to experience. I came out as a senior from (Southern Cal), put a lot of time in the minor leagues. … It's definitely rewarding, a blessing."

Here's the article: http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/E5CE3383F01E0F4A8625726300124AD9?OpenDocument.

Here's an article about Archie Manning, former Saints quarterback and the dad of Colts quarterback Peyton and Giants quarterback Eli, helping fulfill the dream of a deceased wife by taking her family to a Colts game: http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5525.

Also, an article about Vinnie and Ebony Jackson, brother and sister senior basketball players at Arlington High School in Indianapolis. Next year, Ebony will be playing basketball at IU and Vinnie and IU-South Bend. Here's a quote:

Even outside of basketball, Vinnie and Ebony are often together. They both love horror movies. They're regulars at Bible Study at Mount Carmel Baptist Church. They try not to miss 35-cent wings on Tuesdays at BW3s.

In a 40-minute phone conversation, Chrystal lists scores of people, from coaches to teachers, who have helped along the way with the three children, including Christopher, a freshman at Arlington.

"We don't operate thinking we did it by ourselves," Chrystal said. "We made it by the grace of God and all the people we mentioned. We couldn't have done it without them."

Here's the article: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007701160415.

Lastly, an article about the things that C.C. Sabathia is involved with to help others: http://mlbplayers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070116&content_id=1780059&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp.