master activate: February 2013

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Parcells, Sapp, Carter among 7 Hall inductees

FILE - In this Nov. 8, 1999 file photo, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cris Carter (80) celebrates his 6-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jeff George during the third quarter against the Dallas Cowboys, in Minneapolis. Carter was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 25, 1987, file photo, New York Giants coach Bill Parcells is carried off the field after the Giants defeated the Denver Broncos 39-20 in SuperBowl XXI NFL football game in Pasadena, Calif. Parcells was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)

FILE - In this Nov. 27, 1967, file photo, Green Bay Packers Dave Robinson (89) chases Chicago Bears' Gale Sayers (40) during an NFL football game in Chicago. Robinson was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Larry Stoddard, File)

FILE - In t his Jan. 11, 1970, file photo, Kansas City defensive tackle Curley Culp heads towards the sidelines after losing a shoe during NFL football's Super Bowl IV against the Minnesota Vikings in New Orleans. Culp was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. (AP Photo/JS, File)

FILE - In this Aug. 1, 2005, file photo, Dallas Cowboys guard Larry Allen (73) shares a laugh with wide reciever Zuriel Smith (87) prior to the start of afternoon practice at NFL football training camp in Oxnard, Calif. Allen was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)

NEW ORLEANS (AP) ? Bill Parcells was a winner everywhere he coached. Time and time again, he took over struggling franchises and showed them what it takes to be a success, including a pair of Super Bowl titles with the New York Giants.

Parcells pulled off another victory Saturday ? election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Getting in on his fourth try, Parcells led an induction class that also included mouthy defensive lineman Warren Sapp, prolific receiver Cris Carter and a pair of stalwarts from the trenches, offensive linemen Jonathan Ogden and Larry Allen.

The class of 2013 also included a pair of senior selections, Curley Culp and Dave Robinson. The announcement was made in New Orleans, site of Sunday's Super Bowl.

Almost as noteworthy were the finalists who didn't get in, including running back Jerome Bettis and owners Art Modell and Edward DeBartolo Jr. Players and coaches from the Baltimore Ravens, who will face the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl, spent all week lobbying for Modell, their former owner who died last year, to claim a place in the hall.

It didn't work out, no doubt pleasing fans in Cleveland who remain bitter about Modell moving the original Browns to Baltimore.

Parcells had to wait a while, earning a bust in Canton on his fourth try. He thought he might get in the previous year in tandem with one of his former players, Curtis Martin.

"It was a little less stressful than last year," Parcells said in a telephone interview from Florida. "I was kind of hoping we could do it together, but as fate would have it, it didn't work out."

Giants president and CEO John Mara said Parcells' selection for the hall was "long overdue," but his candidacy stirred plenty of debate ? a one-hour discussion among the selection committee members, by far the longest amount of time dedicated to any finalist.

"He's one of the best coaches in NFL history," Mara said. "He turned our franchise around. We went through a long period in the 1960's and 70's when we were a laughingstock. When Bill took over in 1983, he survived a very difficult first year, but then turned us into a perennial playoff contender and won two Super Bowls for us. He coached three other teams and everywhere he went, he had great success."

No one was more emotional than Carter, who took six years to get in despite putting up some of the best receiving numbers in NFL history. He broke down in tears but quickly pointed out "it's not because I'm sad."

"This is the happiest day of my life," he said. "When people said, 'Aw, you know, it really doesn't matter, you're a Hall of Famer in my eyes,' I said, 'It's more important that I'm a Hall of Famer in the Hall's eyes.' And I really, really wanted this. "

Sapp said his stomach was churning all day.

He doesn't have to fret anymore. Next stop, Canton.

"My feet haven't touched the ground in about 30 minutes," Sapp said. "This is unbelievable."

In addition to Bettis, four other players failed to get in on the final vote: Charles Haley, Andre Reed, Michael Strahan and Aeneas Williams. Earlier in the day, the selection committee eliminated DeBartolo and Modell, as well as ex-players Tim Brown, Kevin Greene and Will Shields.

Parcells reversed the fortunes of four teams, also coaching the New England Patriots, New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys, during 19 years as a head coach. He finished with a record of 172-130-1, most notably leading the Giants to Super Bowl titles in 1987 and 1991. He led the Patriots to the Super Bowl after the 1996 season.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft saluted Parcells' election.

"It is well deserved," he said in a statement released by the team. "As a Patriots fan, I will always appreciate the credibility he brought to our franchise as a two-time Super Bowl champion. We had never had a head coach with those credentials. I am very happy for Bill and look forward to his enshrinement ceremonies."

Jets owner Woody Johnson echoed Kraft.

"Bill Parcells infused new life into this franchise on many levels," he said. "From acquiring players like Curtis Martin to bringing back a winning culture, we will always be grateful to Bill for his contributions to the New York Jets."

Sapp got in on his first year of eligibility after playing 13 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders. He amassed 96? career sacks despite playing on the interior of the defensive line, including double-digit sack totals in four seasons. He was the 1999 NFL Defensive Player of the Year after helping Tampa Bay claim its first division title in 18 years.

Carter played 16 seasons, becoming only the second player in NFL history to reach 1,000 receptions in a career. He caught at least 70 passes in 10 seasons, and totaled 130 touchdown receptions from 13 passers.

Allen played 203 games over 14 seasons, spending the bulk of his career with the Cowboys. He played every position on the offensive line except center and was a first-team All-Pro seven straight seasons.

Ogden played a dozen seasons with the Ravens, a lineman who led the way for Jamal Lewis to become just the fifth running back in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. Ogden was a six-time All-Pro and was voted to 11 Pro Bowls.

Like Sapp, Allen and Ogden were first-year selections.

Ogden shared the moment with his family. He called his mother "first thing," and also told his 7-year-old son.

"He's real proud of his dad," Ogden said.

He watched nervously as the announcement was made on the Class of 2013.

"It's like going to the hospital with your wife to have a baby. You can't do anything about it," Ogden said. "You hear everybody say you're a first ballot for sure, but you never really know. A lot of good well deserving guys didn't get in on the first ballot."

"When I got drafted (by Dallas), they'd just won a Super Bowl," Allen said. "When they threw me in, I just didn't want to be the one to mess it up."

His philosophy never changed over his long career: make the guy across from him "quit ... tap out." He joins three other players from that great Cowboys offense of the 1990s in the hall, following Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin.

"All those guys ? Troy and Mike, Emmitt ? they were kind of like big brothers," Allen said. "I looked up to them. They came to work every day and showed me how to do it. They all wanted to be the best."

Culp was a defensive stalwart for the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1960s and '70s, and also played for the Houston Oilers and Detroit Lions. He started at tackle in Kansas City's Super Bowl win over Vikings in 1970 and was selected to six Pro Bowls.

"Curley was a dominating force on the defensive line for the Super Bowl IV championship team and one of many great players that helped build the tradition and foundation of the Kansas City Chiefs," the team's chairman and CEO, Clark Hunt, said in a statement. "We look forward to seeing him take his rightful place in Canton."

Robinson played on the powerhouse Green Bay teams of the 1960s, starting at outside linebacker on coach Vince Lombardi's two Super Bowl champions. He closed his 12-year career with the Washington Redskins.

"He was such a vital part of those great defenses in the 1960s," said Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy. "Dave's contributions to the Packers have not been limited to the field, as he has also been a great ambassador for the organization over the years. We are thrilled that he received this honor."

Robinson was the 22nd member of the Packers to be election to the Hall of Fame.

___

Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

___

Online: http://pro32.ap.org/super-bowl-watch and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-02-02-Hall%20of%20Fame/id-9e4cf2b1b45448dcbf55966e5dbe228d

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Monster storm expected to explode in Atlantic. It may be one for the books.

NOAA forecasters say an unnamed extra-tropical storm will experience explosive intensification over the North Atlantic this weekend. Its central low pressure could rival a category 4 hurricane's.

By Pete Spotts,?Staff writer / January 25, 2013

Forecasters are predicting explosive intensification this weekend for an extra-tropical storm in the North Atlantic that is expected to eclipse the intensity of last October's superstorm Sandy.

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Unlike Sandy, the nameless North Atlantic superstorm poses no threat to land. But it does highlight the power such storms can attain.

It's forecast to develop winds of up to 98 miles an hour, while the air pressure at its center ? expected to reach a low between 920 to 930 millibars ? would rival that of a category 4 hurricane, according to forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Ocean Prediction Center in College Park, Md.

The system is the same storm "that gave us some snow a couple of days ago in DC," says Robert Banks, a forecaster at the Ocean Prediction Center. The storm intensified as the cold air moved out over relatively warm North Atlantic water, which is feeding energy into the system.

In addition, the system is merging with two other upper-level troughs ? providing the storm with yet more punch.

It's not clear how this storm will fare in the record books, Mr. Banks says. But over at the Weather Underground's web site, data gathered by British weather historian Stephen Burt shows five other storms between 1824 and 1986 with central pressures ranging from 920.2 to 925.6 millibars.

An extra-tropical superstorm in January 1993 holds the record for low pressure ? 913 millibars ? for North Atlantic winter storms in an event that destroyed an oil tanker after it ran aground at the Shetland Islands. The tanker, the MV Braer, was carrying 85,000 tons of crude oil.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/science/~3/nJYav9aEyWQ/Monster-storm-expected-to-explode-in-Atlantic.-It-may-be-one-for-the-books

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Egypt protesters, police clash at Morsi's palace

CAIRO (AP) ? Egyptian protesters throwing stones clashed with security forces firing tear gas and water cannons at the presidential palace in Cairo on Friday as the country's political violence extended for an eighth day.

Protests were held in cities around the country on Friday after a call for rallies by pponents of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. But some cracks appeared in the ranks of the opposition as some sharply criticized its political leaders for holding their first meeting with the rival Muslim Brotherhood a day earlier.

Around 60 people have been killed in protests, rioting and clashes that engulfed the country the past week in country's worst crisis since the 2011 fall of autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

Around 6,000 protesters massed outside Morsi's presidential palace in an upscale district of the capital, banging on the gates and throwing stones and shoes into the grounds in a show of contempt. At least one firebomb was thrown through the gates as crowds chanted, "Leave, leave," addressing Morsi.

Security forces inside the palace responded with water cannons on the crowd, then fired volleys of tear gas. A tree inside the palace grounds caught fire.

Thousands more rallied in central Tahrir Square, while a larger crowd marched through the Suez Canal city of Port Said, which witnessed the worst clashes and highest casualties, pumping their fists in the air and chanting, "Leave, leave, Morsi."

The wave of protests began around rallies marking the second anniversary of the uprising that toppled Mubarak. The unrest was prompted by public anger that Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood are monopolizing power and have failed to deal with the country's mounting woes.

But outrage has been further fueled by Morsi's public backing of what was seen as security forces' use of excessive force against protesters last weekend, particular in Port Said, where around 40 people were killed.

Amid the escalating tensions the past week, there have been fears of direct clashes between Morsi's opponents and his Islamist backers. Such battles broke out at the palace in December during an earlier wave of unrest, when Islamists attacked an anti-Morsi sit-in, prompting fighting that left around 10 dead.

A Brotherhood spokesman, Ahmed Arif, underlined on Friday that the group would not call its cadres into the streets. But a young Brotherhood member said the group's members were ordered to gather in a mosque near the presidential palace, as a "precautionary measure" in case anti-Morsi protests turned violent. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.

The government, meanwhile, has increasingly blamed violence on a group of protesters called the Black Bloc, who wear black masks and have vowed to "defend the revolution." Officials and state media depict them as conspiratorial saboteurs, but the opposition says authorities are using the group as a scapegoat to justify a crackdown.

Nearly 20 masked protesters are among hundreds arrested around the country the past week. Egypt's official news agency said on Thursday that a member of the Black Bloc was arrested with "Israeli plans" and maps to target vital institutions ? recalling past allegations by Mubarak-era security officials that opponents were carrying out Israeli interests.

"There's a great deal of exaggeration concerning the Black Bloc group," said Gamal Fahmy, an opposition figure. "It hasn't been proven that the group has committed violence, these are just calls over the social media."

"This is an attempt from the Muslim Brotherhood to blackmail the opposition," by depicting the anti-Morsi movement as violent, he said.

The eruption of violence prompted Morsi last Sunday to declare a state of emergency and curfew in Port Said and two other Suez Canal cities, where angry residents have defied the restrictions with nightly rallies.

Thousands marched on Friday through Port Said, located at the Canal's Mediterranean end, pumping their fists and chanting, "Leave, leave, Morsi." They threatened to escalate pressure with civil disobedience and a work stoppage at the vital Suez Canal authority if their demand for punishment of those responsible for protester death is not met.

"The people want the Republic of Port Said," protesters chanted, voicing a wide sentiment among residents that they are fed up of negligence and mistreatment by central government and that they want to virtual independence.

Buses brought protesters from the two other Suez Canal cities of Suez and Ismailia to join the Port Said rallies.

Friday marked the first anniversary of a mass soccer riot in Port Said that left 74 people dead, mostly fans of Al-Ahly, Egypt's most popular soccer team, which was playing a local Port Said team, Al-Masry.

The past weekend's violence in Port Said was sparked when a court convicted 21 people, mostly locals, in the soccer deaths, a verdict residents saw as unjust and political. Over the next few days, around 40 people were killed in the city in unrest that saw security forces firing on a funeral.

Egypt's main opposition political grouping, the National Salvation Front, called for Friday's protests in Cairo, demanding Morsi form a national unity government and amend the constitution, moves they say would prevent the Islamist from governing solely in the interest of his Muslim Brotherhood group.

"The policies of the president and the Muslim Brotherhood are pushing the country to the brink," the opposition said in a statement.

However, the call came a day after the Front held a meeting with Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood under the aegis of Egypt's premier Islamic institution, Al-Azhar, in their first ever meeting. They and other politicians signed a joint statement denouncing violence.

The meeting appeared to have caused rifts within the opposition, with some saying the Front had handed the Brotherhood the high ground by signing a statement that seemed to focus on protester violence and made no mention of police use of excessive force or explicitly talk of political demands.

"Al-Azhar's initiative talks too broadly about violence as if it's the same to kill a person or break a window and makes no difference between defensive violence and aggressive violence, offering a political cover to expand the repression, detention, killing and torture by the hands of police for the authority's benefit," read a joint statement by 70 activists, liberal politicians, actors and writers.

"The initiative didn't represent the core of the problem and didn't offer solutions but came to give more legitimacy to the existing authority," it added.

Those who attended the Thursday's rare meeting between Egypt's rival political camps defended the anti-violence initiative.

Egypt's leading pro-democracy advocate Mohammed ElBaradei and a Front leader described allegations that the Front is making political compromises them as "intentional attempt to split the ranks."

"We toppled down Mubarak regime with a peaceful revolution. We insist on achieving the goals the same way whatever the sacrifices and the barbaric suppression tactics," the Nobel peace Laureate tweeted.

Ahmed Maher, co-founder of April 6 group which led the anti-Mubarak uprising, said in a tweet: "I am against violence as a solution." An opposition party leader Ahmed Said said in a statement, "no one can say no to an initiative to stop violence."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/egypt-protesters-police-clash-morsis-palace-161020615.html

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