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THE VILLAGER Page 8 ~ May 18, 2012 www.theaustinvillager.com Sports BrazilBrazil andand MexicoMexico SoccerSoccer The San Antonio Spurs Try to Slow TeamsTeams WillWill BattleBattle inin TexasTexas Down The Los Angeles Clippers

By: Terry Davis

@terryd515

Mexico’s 2012 Na- tional Soccer Team’s U.S. Tour will end on June 3, at Arlington’s Cowboys Sta- dium against five-time World Cup champion Bra- zil (3 p.m. ET). Brazil is Mexico took on Brazil in 2007 Copa Cup. Photo Clippers vs. Spurs. Photo by Howard How Getty Images managed by Mano courtesy of Getty images By: Terry Davis and games 3 and 4 will be The second round of the Menezes and will feature The well-rested and ex- played on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. playoffs is common place for the stars A.C. Milan forward strengths, weaknesses, Javier “Chicharito” perienced San Antonio Spurs CDT and Sunday at 9:30 pm Spurs. The Spurs have won Pato, Santos FC’s forward develop players and build Hernández, Deportivo La will try to slow down the upstart CDT in Los Angeles. four NBA titles. The Clippers sensation Neymar and FC team chemistry. This Coruña (Spain) midfielder young and inexperienced Los The Spurs are still not re- do not have any championship Barcelona defender Dani match will be a sneak pre- Andres Guardado, Angeles Clippers. The Clippers ceiving the respect from the na- banners. Alves. The match in Dallas view of two great soccer Tottenham Hotspur (En- advanced to the second round tional media. Tony Parker had The Clippers are led by is part of Brazil’s Gillette teams and two great fan gland) midfielder Giovani of the NBA playoffs after a hard his best season as a professional, Blake Griffin and Paul. Both World Tour organized by bases. Cowboy Stadium Dos Santos and New fought seven game series against yet only finished fifth in the Most players are former Rookie of the Kentaro. will have just as much ac- York Red Bulls defender the Memphis Grizzlies. Valuable Player voting for this Year winners, but have not had You may not be fa- tion in the stands as on the Rafa Márquez. The Spurs earned the ex- season. LeBron James of the great playoff success. Paul only miliar with the players, but pitch. With more than tra rest after sweeping the Utah Heat won the award and advanced to the second round both teams always play The Mexican Na- 60,000 tickets already Jazz in four games. The Spurs Chris Paul of the Clippers fin- once, the 2007-2008 season with great skill and enter- tional Team Head Coach sold for the game at Cow- and Clippers series will resemble ished in third place. The vote was and this is Griffin’s first playoff tain the crowd. This Jose Manuel “Chepo” de boys Stadium, a limited the compacted regular season. conducted by 120 media mem- appearance. match features two teams la Torre announced the number of $30 “Party The first four games of the seven bers and fans were allowed to The Spurs have integrated that are always in the mix list of European and Pass” tickets for the vari- game series will be played over vote on a dedicated website and new younger pieces into the mix to win the World Cup. U.S.-based players who ous stadium Party Decks a six day span. The Staples Cen- their votes only counted as one this season with their veteran The next World Cup will will form part of Mexico’s are available for purchase ter will be very busy for the next vote. lineup. Future Hall of Famer Tim be played in 2014. roster that is headed to via Ticketmaster, by call- week. The Staple Center is the Manu Ginobili finished Duncan along with Ginobili and Teams have to meet cer- New York, Chicago and ing 1-800-745-3000 and home of the Clippers, Los An- sixth in voting for the Sixth Man Parker has taught, DeJuan Blair, tain requirements in order Dallas as part of the other Ticketmaster loca- geles Lakers and the Los Ange- of the Year Award by the NBA. Danny Green, Kawahi to qualify for the tourna- team’s 2012 U.S. Tour tions. The passes are also les Kings and each team is play- Ginobili finished very strong de- Leonard, Gary Neal and Tiago ment that will be played May 27 to June 3. available at the Cowboys ing in the post season and the spite missing many games due Splitter the ropes of the NBA. in Brazil. Brazil also an- Stadium box office lo- arena has limited availability. to injuries. When Ginobili did Only time will tell if youth of the Teams like to play nounced rosters for its cated at Entry A on the Game 2 will be played on Thurs- play he spearheaded the Spurs Spurs will be enough to secure non sanctioned matches games against the Mexi- northeast side of the sta- day May 17 at 8:30 p.m. CDT second unit. another title for the Spurs. against quality opponents can National Team in Dal- dium. The Cowboys Sta- also called “friendlies”. las. El Tri’s” list includes dium box office operating Friendlies are a way for heralded Manchester hours are Monday-Friday teams to determine their United star forward from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT. Rangers Are Riding on The Strength of tember 2011. The Rangers are not a one person team; however Hamilton is the straw that stirs the drink. Hamilton’s play allows other players to be more relaxed with you consistent output. Oppos- ing can’t pitch around him, because nor- mally when he comes to bat someone is on base or there is another good hitter behind him. , Mitch Josh Hamilton is always on the for the Moreland and Mike Napoli Rangers. Photo by Terry Davis are just a few keys pieces for By: Terry Davis games. He became just the the Rangers that do not al- Rangers out- fourth A.L. player since 1921 low pitchers to avoid fielder Josh Hamilton is on with at least nine homers, 25 Hamilton on a regular basis. an MVP run two months into RBI, 20 runs, and 34 hits in On May 8, 2012 the season. Hamilton was se- April, joining ’s Ken Hamilton became the 16th lected as the American Griffey, Jr. and New York’s Major Leaguer to four League (A.L.) Player of the in 1997 and homers, belting a quartet of Month for April. Kansas City’s two-run shots while going 5- The award was an- in 2000. Hamilton also tied for-5 and setting an AL mark nounced by Major League the Rangers team record for with 18 . Baseball in voting by the homers in April. Neftali Feliz fanned a league writers and broad- It marks the fourth time career-high eight, while J.J. caster. Hamilton May is off that Hamilton has won the Hardy and Nick Markakis to an even better start. Thru A.L.’s monthly award as he homered for the O’s. If first two weeks in May only, was also honored in both Hamilton can continue his Hamilton has 9 homers and April and May 2008 and torrid pace the Rangers will 19 RBI. To most players this June 2010. That is the most have a great chance of win- would be a great month, but monthly awards in club his- ning the last game of the year no to Hamilton. tory as and and he will be the hands Hamilton led the A.L. were both down Most Valuable Player with nine homers, 25 RBI, honored three times each as in Baseball. 64 total bases, and a .744 Rangers. It is also the sec- The Rangers opens a while ond consecutive month that three game series with in ranking second with a .395 a Ranger has captured A.L. state rival the Astros batting average, 20 runs, and Monthly honors with Adrian in Minute Maid Park start- 34 hits (tied) in 22 April Beltre being selected in Sep- ing on May 18 thru May 20.