Punjab v Services, Mohali, 1997-98Even before I made my Ranji Trophy debut, there was some chatter that I was in contention for a place in the Indian side. Kwon Alexander Super Bowl Jersey . My name was doing the rounds because I had played the Under-19 World Cup, and I was the only spinner in the country who was bowling the doosra at that time. Earlier in the season, when the Indian team was practising, I was asked to bowl in the nets to them.Before that, there was a West Zone team that came to Jalandhar for the Deodhar Trophy; there was Sanjay Manjrekar, who was leading the team, Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli. I bowled to them in the nets and got all of them out quite a few times. At that time, [Mumbai coach] Balwinder Singh Sandhu apparently wanted me to represent Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, but people in the Punjab Cricket Association said I had a promising career ahead and would play for Punjab. So I knew my turn would come any time, and wasnt really surprised by the call-up.The Punjab team had Vikram Rathour, who captained in this game, Sherry pa [Navjot Singh Sidhu], who captained the side that season, Pankaj Dharmani and Bharati Vij. These were the big guns we used to hear of during our U-19 days, and here I was, playing alongside them. I knew Punjab already had an offspinner in the form of Ashish Kapoor. I had no idea at that time if the wicket we played on would allow for two spinners to be played, but I got to play and I was really happy.The Punjab team was sponsored by a famous apparel brand at that time. Every player in the team used to wear the branded t-shirt - the jersey was nicely done and was proper English white in colour - and I used to long for it too. It was a great thrill to finally wear it, and I wouldnt take it off even while bowling in the nets in Jalandhar.The one thing I was most scared of - and there wasnt much nervousness about my debut - was facing up to one of their bowlers, who had a reputation for being very quick; I think it was MV Rao. At the U-19 level, you dont face many quick bowlers, and you naturally assume that bowlers in the Ranji Trophy are much faster.I was worried about being hit by Rao, and kept praying that he wouldnt bowl to me. It was one of my earliest experiences of wearing the helmet - given the hype around Raos pace, I would have gladly worn two of those. As luck would have it, it was Rao who was bowling when I came out to bat. But, after I got bat on ball off the first delivery, I felt good and realised I had been unnecessarily scared. Now, I knew that he wasnt unplayable.Soon, I began to treat it as just another game. Somewhere down the line, I realised that it had been harder bowling to some U-19 batsmen than against Services because they werent a great team at that time. When I picked up my first wicket, Sherry pa said in his typical style: Oye, Shabaash bacchu, Cha gaya beta [well done, kid]. Sherry pa was my hero. There was a jolly environment in the team at that time, and we would constantly pull each others legs. I was younger than most and used to hang out a lot with Harvinder Singh most of the time; he was another prankster.I played only four or five first-class matches before my international debut. In that season, there was a game against Karnataka, which was quite crucial for Punjab. Nine of Karnatakas eleven players were internationals - people like Rahul Dravid, Sujith Somasundar, Venkatesh Prasad, Javagal Srinath and Anil [Kumble] bhai were playing. The selectors were there to see what the big fuss was about me. I picked up three wickets in the first innings and two in the second.I bowled well in whatever opportunity I got in the game. I troubled Rahul Dravid quite a bit, and was more than happy that I was challenging a top batsman like him. With every game I played, I knew I was coming one step closer to my dream of playing for the country.As told to Arun Venugopal Robbie Gould Super Bowl Jersey . Haas said he "felt a lot of pain" in his right shoulder when he slammed his racket to the ground in frustration after losing his serve at 3-3 in the first set. Roger Craig Super Bowl Jersey . Now, correct me if Im wrong but I saw one official distinctly pointing at the net indicating a good goal but after an inconclusive review they overturned the goal. Shouldnt the ruling on the ice (good goal) stand after an inconclusive review? Why was this overturned? James Veaudry Pembroke, ON -- Hey Kerry, Youll get a lot of these, but why was the Montreal goal against Nashville Saturday night overturned? Eller puts the puck on net and the on ice ruling from the ref behind the net is a Montreal goal. http://www.49ersofficialfanshop.com/jason-verrett-jersey.html ;. Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. AKRON, Ohio -- William McGirt won his first PGA Tour event at the Memorial. Two hours up the road in Ohio and one month later, he had a three-shot lead after one round of the Bridgestone Invitational. Its a familiar theme, just a different character.Winning the Memorial and this World Golf Championship in the same year has happened only four times, and McGirt took a strong guess at who did it.Tiger Woods, Tiger Woods, Tiger Woods and Tiger Woods? he said.Yes, yes, yes and yes.The only other player to sweep the Ohio events was Greg Norman in 1995, when the WGC at Firestone was the World Series of Golf. Either way, McGirt was correct in saying, That would be pretty good company.Heres a sign of how much the PGA Tour has grown. The year Norman swept Ohio, his victory at Firestone allowed him to pass Tom Kite and become the tours career money leader at just under $9.5 million. Thats the size of this years purse. Woods now leads that list at over $110 million. So times have changed.McGirt says his life hasnt altered that much since his first PGA Tour title except for congratulatory messages in text and email that he is still trying to return, and a little more money ($1.53 million for his win at Muirfield Village) in the bank.Imagine how many more messages he would get if he can keep this up over the next three days.MCGIRT DEBUT: McGirt fell in love with Firestone when he arrived on Sunday, playing nine holes and riding in a cart to see the back nine. It showed.He was among eight players to make their World Golf Championship debut on Thursday, and he opened with a 6-under 64 for a three-shot lead over Jason Day, Jimmy Walker and Emiliano Grillo.He made four of his six birdies from outside 18 feet, and he finished his round with a 45-foot putt for par.I fell in love with the place because length is not everything out here, McGirt said. I love it because you cant stand up there and just hit it as hard as you want, go find it and hack it on the green. Its an old, traditional style golf course, which I absolutely love. ... I dont know, maybe its something with Ohio I like.SPIETHS SURPRISE: Jordan Spieth walked off the 18th green with a 68 and the kind of smile that suggests he got away with one.This was not one of those rounds that had 68 written all over it.Spieth only had one birdie attempt on his first 10 holes (he missed it). Jimmie Ward Super Bowl Jersey. He already was 2 over for the round when he holed a 20-foot par putt on the eighth, and then a 25-foot par putt on the ninth. The big celebration was hitting back-to-back greens in regulation for the first time on the 15th.So what happened? He started hitting greens. And he always seems to be making putts. Spieth finished with four straight birdies.Im really just searching for something that isnt far off, thats real simple, Spieth said. It really is only taking place on my scoring clubs, but thats where you need them. Its close. Its almost there. And when it clicks, were definitely in business the way the short game is.DUSTINS RETURN: In his first tournament since he became a major champion, Dustin Johnson was introduced on the tee as ... being from the United States.They keep it simple at the Bridgestone Invitational, and that was fine with Johnson.His thrill came on the 11th hole after he made a simple up-and-down for par. Thats when a radio reporter informed him that his alma mater, Coastal Carolina, had won the College World Series for its first national title.The golf? Not bad. He hadnt practiced all week and played a U.S. kind of a round -- 15 pars, two birdies, one bogey for a 69.I didnt expect a whole lot today, Johnson said. I always expect to play well, but this golf course is playing tough.THE FIELD: Already the smallest field at Firestone in 15 years, the field became even smaller after one round when three players pulled out.Daniel Berger hit one tee shot and withdrew with a sore shoulder. He made $50,500 in unofficial money, meaning it wont count on the tours money list but counts quite nicely in the bank. Brooks Koepka withdrew after 13 holes with an ankle injury.Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III withdrew with a torn labrum in his left hip, and he told Golfweek magazine he would have surgery on Wednesday to fix it. His year is over. Love told the magazine he would be on crutches for a month, but would have plenty of time to think about the Ryder Cup.As for Firestone, the field is down to 58 players on Friday, all of them chasing a first prize of $1.62 million. Thats just $35,000 less than what Norman made in all of 1995 when he won four times. ' ' '
