2012 » centration at all times and not let it affect you, said McIlroy

About 30 minutes after the Chicago Cubs staved off elimination Sunday night with a 3-2 win over the Cleveland Indians in Game 5 of the World Series, third baseman Kris Bryant asked a simple question about whether he thought the team could erase a 3-1 deficit.Why not us? he said. I feel like we play our best with our backs up against the wall. Hopefully, we can get out there and win Game 6, because you never know what can happen in a Game 7.Bryant and Chicago will get a chance to test that theory Tuesday night when the teams meet again, this time at Clevelands Progressive Field.No team has wiped out a 3-1 deficit in the World Series since the Kansas City Royals did it to St. Louis Cardinals in 1985. Although the Royals were the better team against the injury-riddled Cardinals, they might have lost Game 6 were it not for Don Denkingers infamous flubbed call at first base that initiated a game-winning, two-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning.History doesnt exactly favor the Cubs, even if recent developments do. By winning Game 5, they triggered the return of Kyle Schwarber to their lineup as the designated hitter in Cleveland. Schwarber, who tore an ACL during the seasons opening week, wasnt medically cleared to play the field, so he was limited to pinch-hitting over the weekend.Whats more, Chicago appears to have an advantage in the pitching matchup. Jake Arrieta notched a 5-1 win Wednesday night in Game 2, taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning and fanning six in 5 2/3 innings and 98 pitches.Its just like any other game where you feel comfortable with the game plan, Arrieta said of this start. You go out there to do your best to follow through on the execution. Thats really the only thing Ill be thinking about.The Indians counter with right-hander Josh Tomlin, who blanked the Cubs for 4 2/3 innings in a 1-0 win in Game 3. Tomlin will start with three days rest for just the second time in his MLB career, and even though he threw only 58 pitches on Friday night, he admits his preparation will change a little bit because of working on short rest.Its obviously a little better than throwing 100 or 110, Tomlin said of the light workload on Friday night, but in this environment you still get up and down four or five times. Its a little more stressful than a regular-season start.While Tomlin might not be as fresh as Arrieta, his bullpen should be ready to go after Mondays off-day. That includes left-hander Andrew Miller, who has defined Clevelands run to the brink of its first World Series championship since 1948 with his ability to work multiple innings in pressure situations.Although the Indians fell short in Game 5, the bullpen did their part with four scoreless innings, and figures to be on call early if necessary. Tomlin is hoping theyll enter the fray later rather than sooner but is comfortable with their ability to lock down games.Those guys have done an unbelievable job through the course of the regular season and the playoffs, he said. But you go out there with the mindset of going as deep as you can in the game.And, in Tomlins case, answering Bryants question with an emphatic no.Sale Nike Basketball Shoes . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Cheap Basketball Shoes Australia . In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford. http://www.basketballshoesoutletaustralia.com/ . -- Mike Smith never saw his first NHL goal go in. Basketball Shoes Australia From China .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. Cheap Shoes Australia . The Redskins announced Monday that the quarterback who led the team to the Super Bowl championship in the 1987 season will serve as a personnel executive.CHASKA, Minn. -- Rory McIlroy is a big boxing fan, and he looked as if he had gone 15 rounds late Saturday afternoon as the sun set on Hazeltine National. A raging headache was surpassed only by the rage he carried around with him for 11 riveting hours at the Ryder Cup.McIlroy threw a few haymakers himself, and the celebratory uppercuts were part of an exhausting day that saw him and Thomas Pieters win two matches for Europe while also fighting the unfortunate battles with those outside the ropes.The ugliness was outdone only by McIlroys inspired golf. And when he started to wane toward the end of the day, there was Belgiums long-hitting Pieters to pick him up off the mat.After a 4 and 2 victory against Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler in the morning foursomes, McIlroy and Pieters took it to Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka in the afternoon, never trailing, building a 4-up lead and withstanding a late mini-rally to close it out 3 and 1.The European duo has combined for 3 of Europes 6? points, while putting up with a good bit of undesirable nonsense from a loud, obnoxious minority of spectators who for some unknown reason have taken out their anxieties on one of golfs nicest and most accomplished players.Its a tough environment for us to come play in, said McIlroy, a four-time major winner from Northern Ireland who now lives in Florida. We expect that. Its the same for the U.S. guys when they come to play in Europe. You have to keep your concentration out there. Its been a long day and sometimes emotions run high.McIlroy was being diplomatic while trying to carry the European team on his back -- along with Pieters, who is now 3-1 in his first Ryder Cup. If the European galleries have ever gone over the line, it has not been to the extent heard here.It was more than clear that McIlroy was agitated with the behavior of spectators who went beyond the typical partisan rooting that is common and a part of the Ryder Cup. He was heckled throughout the day, and while a good bit of it was in good fun, it became increasingly nasty as the alcohol flowed and the day became more intense.After making what was an unlikely birdie at the seventh hole of the afternoon match, McIlroy punctuated his celebration by turning toward Lake Hazeltine and letting out a howl which pierced the murmuring in the crowd. And then it got particularly unpleasant.As he walked to the 8th tee, a 300-yard journey that becomes a gauntlet as fans scream and yell from a few feet away outside the ropes, at one point, a fan leaned toward McIlroy and screamed an obscenity at him.For most of the day, McIlroy ignored the taunts. But this was impossible to put aside. McIlroy, seething, immediately stopped and pointed at the fan, called for security and continued a stare down that didnt end until a police officerr arrived.dddddddddddd McIlroy then headed up the hill to the tee, striped a 3-iron onto the green and he and Pieters won the hole to go 3-up.It fueled me a lot, he said. The more they shouted, the better we played. I hope they shout all day tomorrow.McIlroy has probably not helped matters. The best way to deal with the unruliness and crudeness is to ignore it, pretend those fans and their comments dont exist, go about the business of making birdies and posting blue on the scoreboard. Easy for you or me to say.The taunts then got personal. He was serenaded several times with Sweet Caroline, a reference to his former fiancée, professional tennis star Caroline Wozniacki. At one point, he mockingly sang along, clapping. All the while, his current fiancée, Erica Stoll, walked along inside the ropes. Yep, classy.When his approach shot found the water next to the 16th green -- helping to momentarily extend the match -- the crowd erupted as if the Vikings had just scored a touchdown in the old Metrodome.Theres nothing wrong with such partisan cheering at the Ryder Cup. But why such venom has been directed at McIlroy is beyond puzzling. This is one of the more popular, gracious players when he competes in PGA Tour events. He just won the Tour Championship on Sunday -- and the FedEx Cups $10-million bonus -- and youd be hard-pressed to find anyone at the tournament who didnt cheer that victory.Its been tough, but you have to keep your focus and concentration at all times and not let it affect you, said McIlroy, who admitted tiring toward the end and was backed up by Pieters, who birdied three of the last five holes. But, at the same time, when you play a good shot or you win a hole or you hole a putt, you want to let them know that.So as much as they are giving it to us, we are trying to give it straight back at them.The big question now is if McIlroy has anything left. Playing five matches, as he will do at this Ryder Cup along with four of his teammates, is exhausting. He left Hazeltine on Saturday evening in a bit of a daze. There was some great golf, but Pieters -- who won an NCAA title at the University of Illinois in 2012 -- offered support in the end.That wont be the case in singles on Sunday, when captain Darren Clarke desperately needs McIlroy to help the Europeans overcome a 9? to 6? deficit. McIlroy has never lost in three singles appearances, and now is not the time to start.McIlroy, who was energized by all of the emotion and adrenaline Friday, might be running out of energy at this point. But dont bet on it. As he said, the negativity has fueled him, and his production of points proves it.Hell need to punch back for one more day. ' ' '