Upper Deck Launches New All-Star Vinyl Sports Figures Exclusively at Toys"R"Us Locations

NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev., Oct 28, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Ultra-hip, stylized figures of NFL stars including Donovan McNabb, Tony Romo and Eli Manning will hit store shelves this week!

The Upper Deck Company is used to being called a cutting-edge pioneer in the sports trading card and collectibles industry. Revolutionary product launches by the Carlsbad, California-based manufacturer have kept the sports memorabilia marketplace humming since 1989. This week, the innovative company is debuting its first-ever, direct-to-retail collectible line of All-Star Vinyl sports figures and is bracing for the purchasing frenzy that's sure to follow!

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/upperdeck/35660/

"We've made great strides in our own hobby marketplace with earlier launches of the All-Star Vinyl line, which was configured in extremely limited quantities for the hardcore sports and vinyl figure collector," said Dave Sanders, director of Upper Deck Authenticated, Upper Deck's memorabilia division. "But now the popular comic-stylized look of the ASV line will be available to sports fans and consumers through a new retail-based configuration sold exclusively at Toys"R"Us stores."

This product launch will represent Upper Deck's first direct-to-retail toy line for its growing sports collectibles business. This latest line of the nine-inch-tall ASV sports figures, which will be on store shelves during the first week of November, includes NFL quarterbacks Donovan McNabb, Tony Romo, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, along with elite running back LaDainian Tomlinson. Packaged inside a stylish, dual-panel window box, each of the full-color ASV figures comes complete with its own Upper Deck trading card touting the concept art, featured athlete and the artist behind the articulated figures. The suggested retail price per unit is $19.99 to $24.99 and they can be viewed by going to www.toysrus.com.

Each of the four major sports leagues and players' associations -- MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL -- have teamed with Upper Deck to provide spot-on representations of various stars highlighted. Upcoming launches on the ASV horizon will focus on NBA standouts and exclusive Upper Deck spokesmen LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett (Dec. '08), followed by a Sports Legends Series featuring Tiger Woods and Muhammad Ali (Feb. '09).

"While the All-Star Vinyl line has had a niche following within the sports figure hobby, we're really looking forward to exposing more and more consumers to our ultra-hip sports vinyl figures," said Sanders. "With the holidays fast approaching, there's no better time to unveil a cool collectible like this one."

About The Upper Deck Company

Upper Deck is a premier sports and entertainment publishing company which delivers a portfolio of relevant, innovative and multi-dimensional product experiences to collectors, sports and entertainment enthusiasts. For more information on Upper Deck and its products please visit www.upperdeck.com.

SOURCE Upper Deck Company

Statistician has turned from sports to politics, with striking results

By James Janega / Chicago Tribune

CHICAGO - Nate Silver’s political rags-to-riches story plays out on a BlackBerry brimming with e-mails and a schedule conspiring to run him into the ground.

Last spring he was a sports statistics savant virtually unknown outside the world of obsessive baseball fans. Now he dreams about hiring a personal assistant. With the election a week away, the Chicagoan has become one of the most sought-after election analysts in the country, thanks to a computer program he built to blend poll results, demographics and political trends.

Silver boldly predicted a Barack Obama victory months ago. As of Sunday, he’s 96.7 percent sure of that. He breaks down the numbers into a dizzying array of scenarios: On Sunday, he sees a 4.75 percent chance of John McCain winning the popular vote. There’s a 2.13 percent chance of Obama losing the popular vote but winning the most electoral votes. There’s a 0.25 percent chance of a tie in the Electoral College.

Silver earned his baseball credibility in 2005 by predicting the White Sox would win it all. He earned his political stripes during this year’s primaries with several smart forecasts, such as picking the Super Tuesday results within 20 delegates out of 1,700.

Now Silver’s political Web site, FiveThirtyEight.com, is a must-read for political wonks.

"I don’t know who his publicist is, but he’s doing a hell of a job," said Charles Franklin, a political scientist and co-founder of the influential site Pollster.com, which gets 1.8 million visitors a week. Silver’s gets 700,000 a day.

"I mean that mostly out of jealousy and admiration," Franklin added.

Silver has been a partner at sports think tank Baseball Prospectus since 2004. He was a high school debate champ in East Lansing, Mich., and got an economics degree from the University of Chicago. Back when he was a consultant at international tax accounting firm KPMG, a side fixation with baseball statistics led him to create PECOTA, his system to wrestle reliable predictions from raw numbers.

Since he created the computer model that powers FiveThirtyEight.com late last winter - the name refers to the number of votes in the Electoral College - demands on his time have grown.

Fresh numbers drive everything. Silver feeds 30 state polls into his computer model every 24 hours. He weights pollsters by track record and averages state polls, checking them against national polls and similar demographic slices elsewhere in the country. A statistical model allocates undecided voters and simulates the election 10,000 times a day.

Andrew Gelman, a statistician and political scientist at Columbia University, used a similar approach with a colleague from Harvard University in a paper on Sept. 21. Both Gelman’s and Silver’s models agreed: They gave Obama a convincing lead in the popular vote and more than enough electoral votes to seal the election.

"I’m meticulous," Silver said. "I like getting into details, and when I get into something, I get into it. I don’t dabble in a lot of things."

So far, he has also been accurate when it mattered.

On the morning of May 6, he defied conventional pollsters who saw a 5-point lead for Hillary Clinton in Indiana and rapid momentum for her in North Carolina. On May 7, election results bore Silver out by giving Indiana to Clinton by 1 point and North Carolina to Obama by 17. The world came knocking at Silver’s door.

Silver wasn’t always so confident in his prediction program. He was stunned by a leap for Obama when Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy in September. Markets fell, and so did McCain’s chance of victor in Silver’s model.

"I got a little bit worried," Silver said. "This isn’t the actual condition of the election. Ordinary logic goes out the window."

And so Silver left to finalize a deal that sends text messages of his predictions to readers’ cell phones, wondering what would happen to his numbers if emotional voters just changed their minds.

Suspect arrested in homicide at Blondie's Sports Bar

By TIM HARLOW, Star Tribune

Authorities in Florida this morning arrested a Minneapolis man wanted in connection with fatal shooting last month at a Brooklyn Park bar.

Agents from the Florida Fugitive Task Force and the FBI arrested a 32-year-old man in Fort Lauderdale after police and investigators with the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office tracked him there, said Capt. Greg Roehl of the Brooklyn Park Police.

Roehl said the suspect aided another man who allegedly shot Romel Jones Jr. in the face on Sept. 24 as he stood on the patio Blondie's Sports Bar and Grill. Two other people were injured in the shooting.

The suspect made his first appearance in a Florida court this morning. It's not clear if the suspect will waive his right to extradition to Minnesota to face charges, Roehl said.

Police continue to look for 20-year-old Antonio Rashaun Dale, 20, of Minneapolis. He has been charged with second-degree murder. Police say he is the man who pulled the trigger killing Jones, Jr., 19. A dispute between two groups shortly after midnight led to the shooting, police said.

Dale was added to the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office's Most Wanted list today.

Dale is described as 5 feet 6 inches, 117 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He has a tattoo on his right and left hands, and one on his upper left arm that says "Love Mom."

Calgary to be the new permanent home for Canada's Sports Hall of Fame

TORONTO — Curt Harnett looks forward to a day when he'll have more room in his shed. And it's not because he needs the extra space.

The three-time Olympic medallist has been storing the bike he used to win bronze at the Atlanta Games for 12 years, just waiting to give it a better home.

Soon, he'll be getting that chance.

Harnett was one of many former athletes who was thrilled with Tuesday's announcement that Calgary has been chosen to permanently house Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.

"It's sitting in the shed but I'm making sure it doesn't get too many scratches and dings on it," Harnett said of the bike. "I've got to keep it up off the ground out of the way of the lawnmower."

The new facility will be part of a major expansion at Canada Olympic Park and is expected to open in 2011. The Hall has gone through a turbulent period since the federal government cancelled plans to move it to Ottawa nearly 10 years ago but appears now to have found stable footing.

"For me it's a dream come true," said Sheryn Posen, the Hall's chief operating officer. "I want to celebrate the Hall with all of Canada - it's a wonderful, magical place when you walk through the doors and see different things.

"We wanted to find the right home and I'm confident we've done that."

The project is expected to cost $50 million, with roughly $30 million needed for construction and another $20 million for an endowment fund that will help cover operating costs. The Canadian Olympic Development Agency donated the land where the new Hall will be built.

Calgary was one of nine cities vying for it.

"We have been very, very passionate and very agressive in trying to provide an option for Canada's Sports Hall of Fame to have a home," said Roger Jackson, co-chair of Calgary's bid. "(The Olympic Park) is a superb location to honour sport and its athletes."

It certainly beats the space on Toronto's Exhibition grounds where boxes of artifacts are currently being stored away from public view.

The Hall previously occupied another location on the property that was open to visitors but former rower Marnie McBean says even it was well below standard. The three-time Olympic gold medallist was inducted to the Hall along with rowing partner Kathleen Heddle in 1997 and remembers visiting the museum at that time.

"It was like the carrels of a library that nobody goes to," said McBean. "It kind of rode off into the sunset a little bit. It got to a point where it wasn't acceptable to keep it open because it had withered."

She is part of the board that helped choose Calgary and is enthusiastic about the Hall's potential moving forward. It's an opinion that is shared by other former athletes like speedskater Sylvia Burka, hockey player Ron Ellis, football player Russ Jackson and golfer Sandra Post - all members of the Hall who turned up for Tuesday's announcement.

After so many years of struggles, it was the kind of good news the institution has been hoping for.

Harnett likens the Hall's progression to the life of an athlete who has quietly had to overcome several obstacles before arriving at his big Olympic moment.

"The years of toiling behind the scenes and training and racing and success and failure are not necessarily witnessed day to day by the general public," said Harnett. "Then all of a sudden they see you on this world stage and expect the best out of you.

"This announcement is really the culmination of something like that."

He was inducted to the Hall in 2005 and has had discussions with Posen in the past about donating the bike he rode to bronze in Atlanta.

Up until now, there really wasn't much point in doing it.

"I've been holding back in knowledge that we were coming towards the final resolution of where the home will be," said Harnett. "I've maintained my bike - why give it to them and have them try to find a place for it?

"One day it hopefully shows up and is displayed properly in Calgary."

Canadianpress.

Ten first with new digital sport service

Jane Schulze

THE Ten Network will launch an advertising-light 24/7 sports digital multi-channel next year.

Under the plans, revealed in The Australian in July, Ten's existing high definition (HD) channel will be renamed ONE and simulcast on Ten's new standard definition channel to be launched in January.

The service is expected to begin in the second quarter of the 2009 calendar year.

Ten's chief executive Grant Blackley said ONE would appeal to a broader audience than Ten's traditional demographic of 18 to 49-year-olds.

The digital-only channel would also feature less advertising than seen on Ten, he said.

Ten recently won the broadcast rights for Swimming Australia, netball and the Indian Premier League. It also jointly owns the rights to AFL games and the Commonwealth Games.

Ten's head of sport David White said the channel would "showcase sports loved by Australians". "Live and exclusive will be a hallmark of the channel," Mr White said.

Ten must show all sports on the Government's anti-siphoning list on Ten before they are shown on ONE, or show them simultaneously.

The free-to-air TV industry wants the list to be changed so sports on the list can be run first on the multi-channels.

That has been vigorously opposed by the pay-TV sector and major sporting bodies who rely on broadcast rights for the majority of their funds.

Mr Blackley said he would welcome that change to the anti-siphoning regime, which he said would aid the federal Government's plan to switch off all analogue TV signals by 2013.

He said the fact ONE would be shown on HD and SD channels meant "we will have no less than 50 per cent reach in the Australian market on day one".

ONE will compete against pay-TV sports channels Fox Sports and ESPN -- and will also be available through Foxtel -- but a Foxtel spokesperson said it welcomed the competition.

Fox Sports chief operating officer Jon Marquard was unperturbed. "I don't think there's much new there if you look at the content," he said.

Opposition communications spokesman Nick Minchin recently criticised the Government in Senate estimates for ending the broadcasting regulator's monitoring of the anti-siphoning list. But he said yesterday he had yet to decide if the list should be changed.

"As a sports lover myself I welcome increased availability of sport on TV, but respect the significant importance to the sports themselves in terms of their access to funds and the competitive bidding process and the continuing viability of pay-TV," Senator Minchin said.

ESPN's Asia-Pacific vice-president Mike Morrison had no comment on Ten's plan, but said: "ESPN is the leading high-quality sports channel showing over 60 different sports".

Sports in brief

Lute Olson's doctor said Tuesday that he advised the former Arizona coach to retire after a recent MRI confirmed he had suffered a stroke within the past year.

Dr. Steven Knope's comments at a news conference called by the family offer the first explanation for Olson's sudden retirement last week, two days after he appeared at the media day for his 25th season with Arizona.

They also ended speculation about Olson's health since he took a leave of absence last season for what he later termed a "medical condition that was not life-threatening."

"He is quite literally devastated," Knope said at the Tucson news conference attended by two of Olson's daughters. The doctor said the stroke attacked a part of the brain that didn't affect motor function as much as it left Olson with severe depression, impaired judgment and uncharacteristic behavior.

Knope said Olson -- who is on a blood thinner -- was struggling to handle his workload: "He just couldn't put the pieces together. He couldn't do what he needed to do for the team."

COLLEGES: Hoosiers name Glass new AD

Indianapolis attorney Fred Glass, 49, was introduced as the new athletic director at his alma mater, Indiana. He replaces Rick Greenspan, who announced in June that he would resign at the end of the year.

A&M settles bonfire suit

Texas A&M agreed to pay $2.1 million to settle a lawsuit by the victims of a 59-foot bonfire tower that collapsed and killed 12 people and injured dozens in 1999.

Since then, the university has prohibited the bonfire on its property -- a tradition for the Texas football game since 1909 -- and it has been held off campus by students and alumni.

GOLF: Compton gets Disney exemption

Erik Compton, 28, who advanced through the first stage of PGA Tour qualifying just five months after his second heart transplant in May, has been given an exemption to play the year's final event, next month's Children's Miracle Network Classic at Disney World.

As he did in qualifying school, Compton will be allowed to use a cart, the first player to do so on the tour since Casey Martin.

SOCCER: Maradona might coach Argentina

Former superstar Diego Maradona says he's mulling an offer to coach Argentina's national team. "We have to keep talking," he said. "There are some things to resolve. This is just beginning."

TENNIS: Federer to play against U.S.

Roger Federer announced he will play in Switzerland's first-round Davis Cup match against the host United States in March. He hasn't played a first-round tie since 2004.

Free Press news services

US-SPORTS Summary

Reuters

Celtics celebrate title win by rallying past Cavs

BOSTON (Reuters) - The Boston Celtics capped a night of celebration by opening the defense of their NBA crown with a rousing 90-85 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. In a pre-game ceremony, the Celtics heralded last season's 17th NBA title by raising the championship banner to the rafters and the players were then presented with their winner's rings.

Bryant on song as Lakers crush Trail Blazers

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Kobe Bryant delivered a masterclass to lift the Los Angeles Lakers to a 96-76 win over the Portland Trail Blazers in their NBA season opener Tuesday. The inspirational league MVP registered 23 points, 11 rebounds and five assists as the Lakers launched their quest for a first NBA title since 2001-02 in triumphant style.

Crying Jones tells Oprah Olympic memory will be tarnished

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Using banned drugs and being sent to jail for lying about it had tarnished her Olympic memory, disgraced U.S. sprinter Marion Jones has admitted in a tear-filled interview with talk show host Oprah Winfrey. Jones, who was released from prison last month after serving six months for lying to federal prosecutors about her steroid use, was stripped of her three gold and two bronze Sydney Olympic medals by the International Olympic Committee.

Mickelson happy to be a golfing globetrotter

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Phil Mickelson has racked up the air miles in pursuit of golf titles and prize money and the American believes the game's growing globalization will encourage more players to follow suit. Mickelson, set to defend his HSBC Champions title in Shanghai next month before playing in the $5 million Singapore Open, said economic conditions and a lack of U.S. golf growth had made it crucial to play all over the world.

Flames blank Avalanche 3-0

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Calgary netminder Miikka Kiprusoff had his first shutout of the season as the Flames blanked the Colorado Avalanche 3-0 on Tuesday. The win was the Flames' fourth in a row and marked Kiprusoff's 150th career victory.

World Series delayed until Wednesday

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - The World Series was on hold on Tuesday as weather forced a further delay to Game Five between Philadelphia and Tampa Bay, which was suspended because of heavy rain on Monday with the score tied at 2-2. With cold rain falling and a chance of snow showers in the forecast, Major League Baseball (MLB) announced that Game Five would not resume on Tuesday. It is now tentatively scheduled to resume on Wednesday at 8:37 p.m., weather permitting.

Chargers fire defensive co-ordinator Cottrell

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The San Diego Chargers fired defensive co-ordinator Ted Cottrell on Tuesday after going nine quarters without a sack or interception. Inside linebackers coach Ron Rivera had been promoted to replace Cottrell in the wake of Sunday's 37-32 defeat to New Orleans in London, the team said.

Sacks leader Smith headlines Hall of Fame nominees

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Defensive end Bruce Smith, the NFL's all-time sacks leader, headlined the list of first-year eligible candidates for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced on Tuesday. An eight-time All-Pro, Smith terrorized opposition quarterbacks for 19-seasons, amassing an NFL record 200 sacks with the Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins.

Capitals shrug off Ovechkin absence to edge Preds

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Washington Capitals overcame the absence of league MVP Alex Ovechkin to edge the Nashville Predators 4-3 in a shootout on Tuesday. Ovechkin returned to Russia earlier this week to visit his 83-year-old ill grandfather, ending a 203 consecutive-game streak for last season's scoring champion.

Roddick, Del Potro stroll into Paris third round

PARIS (Reuters) - Andy Roddick and Juan Martin Del Potro were firmly on track for a Masters Cup berth as they strolled into the third round of the Paris Masters on Tuesday. American Roddick, sixth in the ATP Race, beat Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 6-3 6-4 while Argentine Del Potro, who is seventh, thrashed Croatian Mario Ancic 6-0 6-4.

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