SAN FRANCISCO — The anxiety-filled green room and draft day seem so long ago now to Aaron Rodgers.Still, on this weekend, any lingering feelings of frustration about how far he dropped will be directed right at the team that passed him up with the No. 1 pick nearly eight years ago.Rodgers brings the high-scoring Green Bay Packers (12-5) to Candlestick Park on Saturday to face No. 2 seed San Francisco (11-4-1) in prime time for a place in the NFC Championship Game. He'll take the field in the very venue where he became a regular fan as a boy rooting for Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Steve Young.Rodgers, who appeared in a preseason game at Candlestick in 2008, will play his first meaningful game at the stadium at last, as an eighth-year pro. He will look to avenge a 30-22 season-opening home loss to the 49ers."It will be fun. I went to a few baseball games there growing up, and saw a game there when I was in college," Rodgers said. "Stadium's got a lot of tradition. Looks like we're kind of fortunate with the weather right now. Still wonder what that's going to be like."But it will be a night game, it will be loud, it will be a great environment and it should be a good show for the fans."Rodgers is putting on quite a show, all right.He returns to Northern California, where he became a college star for California across San Francisco Bay in Berkeley, with a healthy cast of receivers and the swagger of a Super Bowl champion.When Rodgers dropped to No. 24 in the 2005 draft after Alex Smith went No. 1, he was asked about his disappointment. He so matter-of-factly said, "not as disappointed as the 49ers will be that they didn't draft me."Now, everybody in the Bay Area and beyond will be watching his every move again.He already upset some friends he couldn't accommodate with tickets. Family first, with everybody else making the 4-hour trek from his hometown of Chico left to fend for themselves.Most important, of course, is getting Green Bay one step closer to another Super Bowl. Last season's chance at a repeat championship came to a screeching halt at the hands of the Giants in this very round at Lambeau Field.The Giants came to San Francisco the next week and won the NFC title game, 20-17 in overtime.Just as the Niners moved on from that heartbreaking loss and used it as a motivational push each day this season, the same goes for Rodgers after being slighted by his beloved San Francisco on draft day."It's been a long time since the green room," Rodgers said. "I have a lot of good memories growing up watching Steve Young and Joe Montana on TV and the Super Bowl wins and being a 49ers fan. That was a team I enjoyed watching and dreamt about playing for. I'm eight years removed here, and obviously I'm really happy with the situation I'm in."A lot has changed in that time for San Francisco, too.The QB the 49ers picked ahead of Rodgers — Smith — spent the season's second half on the bench as coach Jim Harbaugh promoted second-year pro Colin Kaepernick, who is set to make his playoff debut on Saturday.In an odd twist, Kaepernick was born in Milwaukee and adopted before moving to California at age 4. Yes, he began as a toddler Cheesehead, then changed allegiances "when I got drafted," Kaepernick said.He has never met Rodgers.
Showing posts with label point. Show all posts
Showing posts with label point. Show all posts
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
United salvages point with furious fightback
LONDON — Three goals down after 50 minutes at Chelsea, Manchester United produced a trademark comeback to draw 3-3 on Sunday and stay within reach of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.
Get a leg up: Chelsea's Jose Bosingwa attempts to kick the ball in front of Manchester United's Antonio Valencia on Sunday in London. The match ended in a 3-3 draw. APBut even though a point had appeared an unlikely prospect early in the second half, manager Alex Ferguson was still aggrieved."It's two dropped points because we played so well," Ferguson said. "Apart from a period of 10 minutes after halftime when we got off to a terrible start and lost two goals, I thought we were the far better team."It's not easy coming back from 3-0 and it was a massive effort from our players."United had inadvertently given Chelsea the lead when Jonny Evans turned the ball into his own net in the first half, and Juan Mata and David Luiz found the net at the start of the second half."A lot of teams would have found it easy to put their heads down and accept defeat," Wayne Rooney said. "But we never put our heads down."The fixture between England's two most successful sides of recent years was marred by some Chelsea fans jeering every touch of United defender Rio Ferdinand, who is black. Chelsea captain John Terry, who was sidelined through injury, is facing a trial for allegedly racially abusing Ferdinand's brother, Queens Park Rangers defender Anton, during a match in October."Rio, Rio what's the score?" some Chelsea fans chanted after their third goal came off Rio Ferdinand before going into the net."You don't expect opposing fans to cheer your players," Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas told reporters. "This is a normal situation in the Premiership. You have to condemn it when there is discriminatory, aggressive behavior . . . If you want to give importance to situations like this, it's up to you."Responding later on Twitter to the booing, Ferdinand said: "Well done guys thanks for inspiring me & the lads! That's like fuel to me!"Evans inadvertently put Chelsea in front in the 36th minute. After racing past Patrice Evra on the right flank, Daniel Sturridge's chipped cross hit United goalkeeper David de Gea's boot and rebounded off Evans' chest into his goal.De Gea has looked shaky since arriving in the offseason, but was not culpable for Chelsea surging further in front after the break.After 25 seconds, Mata powered a first-time volley into the net after meeting Fernando Torres' pinpoint cross from the right.Mata turned provider five minutes later. A free kick from the Spain winger skimmed off Luiz's head and came off Ferdinand's shoulder before landing in the net.The Blues were cruising — but not for long. The reversal of fortunes came following Hernandez replacing Ashley Young and two penalty decisions.AMMAN — Japan hit a roadblock on its path to the London Olympics as Takashi Sekizuka's side lost 2-1 to Syria on Sunday, dropping to second in Group C of the Asian zone.The young Blue Samurai thought they had escaped with a point after Kensuke Nagai equalized in first-half stoppage time, canceling Mohammed Fares' goal.Syria, though, had saved the best for last as defender Ahmad Al Salih won it on the stroke of the 90th minute with an awesome effort from midfield."It's obviously hugely disappointing," Sekizuka said. "I thought both teams did very little in the first half and that the game would come down to the second half — and it did."
Get a leg up: Chelsea's Jose Bosingwa attempts to kick the ball in front of Manchester United's Antonio Valencia on Sunday in London. The match ended in a 3-3 draw. APBut even though a point had appeared an unlikely prospect early in the second half, manager Alex Ferguson was still aggrieved."It's two dropped points because we played so well," Ferguson said. "Apart from a period of 10 minutes after halftime when we got off to a terrible start and lost two goals, I thought we were the far better team."It's not easy coming back from 3-0 and it was a massive effort from our players."United had inadvertently given Chelsea the lead when Jonny Evans turned the ball into his own net in the first half, and Juan Mata and David Luiz found the net at the start of the second half."A lot of teams would have found it easy to put their heads down and accept defeat," Wayne Rooney said. "But we never put our heads down."The fixture between England's two most successful sides of recent years was marred by some Chelsea fans jeering every touch of United defender Rio Ferdinand, who is black. Chelsea captain John Terry, who was sidelined through injury, is facing a trial for allegedly racially abusing Ferdinand's brother, Queens Park Rangers defender Anton, during a match in October."Rio, Rio what's the score?" some Chelsea fans chanted after their third goal came off Rio Ferdinand before going into the net."You don't expect opposing fans to cheer your players," Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas told reporters. "This is a normal situation in the Premiership. You have to condemn it when there is discriminatory, aggressive behavior . . . If you want to give importance to situations like this, it's up to you."Responding later on Twitter to the booing, Ferdinand said: "Well done guys thanks for inspiring me & the lads! That's like fuel to me!"Evans inadvertently put Chelsea in front in the 36th minute. After racing past Patrice Evra on the right flank, Daniel Sturridge's chipped cross hit United goalkeeper David de Gea's boot and rebounded off Evans' chest into his goal.De Gea has looked shaky since arriving in the offseason, but was not culpable for Chelsea surging further in front after the break.After 25 seconds, Mata powered a first-time volley into the net after meeting Fernando Torres' pinpoint cross from the right.Mata turned provider five minutes later. A free kick from the Spain winger skimmed off Luiz's head and came off Ferdinand's shoulder before landing in the net.The Blues were cruising — but not for long. The reversal of fortunes came following Hernandez replacing Ashley Young and two penalty decisions.AMMAN — Japan hit a roadblock on its path to the London Olympics as Takashi Sekizuka's side lost 2-1 to Syria on Sunday, dropping to second in Group C of the Asian zone.The young Blue Samurai thought they had escaped with a point after Kensuke Nagai equalized in first-half stoppage time, canceling Mohammed Fares' goal.Syria, though, had saved the best for last as defender Ahmad Al Salih won it on the stroke of the 90th minute with an awesome effort from midfield."It's obviously hugely disappointing," Sekizuka said. "I thought both teams did very little in the first half and that the game would come down to the second half — and it did."
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