Pirate Galaxy » out getting coffee and met come Cub

NEW YORK -- Some Columbia University wrestlers will be suspended from the team for as long as the rest of the school year over lewd and racially insensitive text messages, but some teammates can keep competing, including in a state championship this weekend, the university announced on Friday.Columbia wouldnt say how many wrestlers are barred from competing, citing educational privacy laws, and the team coach and assistant coaches didnt immediately respond to emails and phone calls seeking comment.The team apologized in a letter on Thursday, calling the text messages inexcusable and saying members were prepared for repercussions.We could not be more remorseful for the harm that this situation has caused, the team wrote, according to a student-run blog that said it received the letter.The blog, Bwog.com, had published screengrabs of the crude text messages.The Ivy League university had put all competition on hold Monday to investigate the texts, which the blog said were exchanged by seniors on the wrestling team.Some messages disparaged female students, expressed hope that someone would be sexually assaulted at a campus event, used anti-gay terms and slurred black people, including while discussing the deadly police shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014.The blog redacted the senders identities, so it was unclear how many people sent or responded to them. But Columbias athletics department said in a statement on Friday it determined only a distinct group of wrestlers was involved.Those responsible for the offensive statements are suspended from the team through the rest of the school year, some others are barred just through the rest of the semester and those who werent involved can continue competing, the athletics department said. No wrestlers are suspended from their studies, just from the sport.The department said it recognized students have a right to express themselves, but the appalling messages dont fit behavior standards for Columbias student-athletes. The athletes code of conduct includes pledges to treat everyone with dignity and respect and not to do anything that might reflect poorly on themselves or the team.The wrestlers will work with an advocate for fighting discrimination in sports, the department said.The messages were revealed a week after Harvard University canceled the remainder of the season for its mens soccer team because of lewd comments about members of the womens soccer team. Baker Mayfield Jersey . The 29-year-old Baines has established himself as one of the top attacking full backs in the country and was the subject of two bids from United during the last off-season. Everton manager Roberto Martinez says that keeping Baines at the club is a "massive boost and exciting for the future" because he brings "maturity and football knowledge in a very specialized position on the pitch" and an "infectious and positive influence to the rest of the squad. Ozzie Newsome Youth Jersey . Cote was eligible to become a free agent Feb. 15. Cote helped running back Jon Cornish run for a league-high 1,813 rushing yards en route to being named the leagues most outstanding player. http://www.brownsauthenticproshop.com/Customized/ . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. Myles Garrett Browns Jersey . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. Denzel Ward Womens Jersey . Oaklands loss to Seattle clinched the ALs best record for the Red Sox with one day to spare in the regular season. "I think everybody was kind of watching," catcher David Ross said. "Demp (Ryan Dempster) came out before he went to the bullpen and was just yelling that they lost. Chicago is the centre of the sporting universe this week, only the All Blacks and Ireland have nothing to do with it. The Windy City is basking in the drought-breaking glory of the Chicago Cubs who, after a 108-year wait, are finally World Series champions. The party is unlikely to subside for some time, but Chicagoans who do turn their minds to other things will be wise to embrace rugby as they have a chance to see one of the truly great sporting teams in action on Saturday.After setting a world record for consecutive Tier One wins, the All Blacks have set their sights on finishing the year unbeaten. Having romped through the Rugby Championship, disposing of Australia, Argentina and South Africa with ease, and Wales 3-0 before that, a four-Test tour in the northern hemisphere will seemingly hold few fears. Still, Australia troubled New Zealand just enough in Bledisloe III to show the All Blacks may be the slightest bit vulnerable -- providing you can play for the entire 80 minutes.And that will be the challenge for Ireland. Playing their first Test since a 2-1 series loss in South Africa, Joe Schmidts side will likely be a tad rusty. That is forgivable to a point, but New Zealand, given their expertise on turnover ball, wont be anywhere near as gracious.Team newsNew ZealandHaving experienced a wretched injury toll at lock, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen will blood an all-Blues second-row pairing in Jerome Kaino and Patrick Tuipolutu. Kainos shift from No. 6 means there is a just a second Test start for Liam Squire while a fit-again Sam Cane has replaced Matt Todd at No. 7. Aaron Smith returns at half-back after missing back-to-back Tests due to indiscriminate use of a disabled toilet, while George Moala and Waisake Naholo have also been awarded starts at outside centre and right wing respectively.Ben Smith, Waiseke Naholo, George Moala, Ryan Crotty, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith; Joe Moody, Dane Coles, Owen Franks, Patrick Tuipulotu, Jerome Kaino, Liam Squire, Sam Cane, Kieran Read (captain).Replacements: Codie Taylor, Ofa Tuungafasi, Charlie Faumuina, Scott Barrett, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Aaron Cruden, Malakai Fekitoa.IrelandJoe Schmidt has named an impressive line-up with veteran Rob Kearney getting the nod at full-back. That selection means Jared Payne will start from outside centre in a backline that features familiar faces Jonny Sexton, Conor Murray, Simon Zebo and Andrew Trimble. The pack also boasts plenty of experience with captain Rory Best and No. 8 Jamie Heaslip leading the charge.Rob Kearney, Andrew Trimble, Jared Payne, Robbie Henshaw, Simon Zebo, Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray; Jack McGrath, Rory Best (captain), Tadhg Furlong, Donnacha Ryan, Devin Toner, CJ Stander, Jordi Murphy, Jamie Heaslip.Replacements:Sean Cronin, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, Josh van der Flier, Kieran Marmion, Joey Carbery, Garry Ringrose.Key matchup: Beauden Barrett vs Jonny SextonWhat in the world happened to Barrett in Auckland a fortnight ago? While his inaccurate goal-kicking came as little surprise, Barretts lack of timing and poor execution oof fly-half play was unlike anything weve seen from him this season.dddddddddddd Rather than condemn Barrett -- a fancy for World Rugby Player of the Year despite his Auckland shocker -- to the pine, Hansen has decided that performance was an aberration and backed Barrett to regain control of the All Blacks juggernaut. If Barrett can rediscover the form he has shown in just about every other match hes played this year, Ireland could well be in for a long night.Sexton doesnt possess the same attacking brilliance or the turn of speed as Barrett, but he is arguably more adept at steering a Test side around the paddock given his 64 Test caps. He knows what it takes to win the big games, too, as evidenced by his efforts in the British & Irish Lions 2-1 series win in Australia and Irelands back-to-back Six Nations triumphs of 2014 and 2015. Sexton will likely go to the air with regularity early, but he must take the line on himself as the match progresses - an area where the Wallabies Bernard Foley enjoyed success a fortnight ago.Key stats- Ireland have never beaten New Zealand, with their most recent encounter in 2013 ending in heartbreak after Aaron Cruden was allowed to retake a match-winning conversion after an 82nd-minute try.- Julian Savea will bring up his 50th Test cap; he has scored 45 tries to date.- This is just the second time Ireland and New Zealand have met on neutral ground, the first coming at Rugby World Cup 1995 when the All Blacks triumphed 43-19.WeatherChicago is set for a clear, sunny day throughout Saturday, with the temperature set to hover around a cool 12 degrees (Celsius) come kick-off.What they said:I listened to Joe (Maddon), the Chicago coach saying that curses and such things arent what make sport, its actually the process of getting across the line that makes it. So, I know that this Irish side is a good team, last time we played them they should have won and theyve only gotten better since then. - New Zealand coach Steve Hansen.Its really exciting, there was quite a buzz on the flight over. We were out getting coffee and met come Cubs fans, and Bears Fans, they were asking are we the Irish team, and they know about the game. Were expecting a huge crowd, a lot of Irish here and a huge sports town. All the guys are excited to play in such a cool city, and hopefully they come out in numbers and make a lot of noise to aid us. - Ireland half-back Conor Murray.VerdictIreland are capable of ruining New Zealands season of perfection, but that challenge will come when the two sides meet in Dublin in a few weeks time. Put simply, the Irish wont have had enough time together to trouble an All Blacks side that has been humming all year. No-one has got within 14 points of the world champions this season, and Ireland wont improve on that margin in Chicago this weekend. The Cubbies may have ended a 108-year wait for World Series glory this week, but this Test wont follow that same drought-breaking script.New Zealand by 17. ' ' '