Dein erstes Forum » competing for a pan-European team mad

LAKEVILLE, Conn. -- Colin Braun took the pole position Friday for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race Saturday at Lime Rock Park, and Richard Westbrook gave Ford Chip Ganassi Racing its second GT Le Mans class pole.Driving the No. 54 CORE autosport ORECA FLM09, Braun turned in a best lap of 48.824 seconds (108.6 mph) around the 1.474-mile, seven-turn road course to earn the top starting spot overall and in the Prototype Challenge class. It was the second consecutive pole for Braun.Im obviously really happy to get the pole, Braun said. It wasnt our goal of that session, but we were really focused on Saturday. Thats the important one. Tire management is certainly going to be important for us.Robert Alon will start second in the No. 52 PR1-Mathiasen Motorsports ORECA FLM09 with a best lap of 48.840 seconds (108.6 mph). James French qualified third in the No. 38 Performance Tech Motorsports ORECA at 48.930 seconds (108.4 mph).Westbrook turned a best lap of 50.748 seconds (104.5 mph) in the No. 67 Ford GT to take the top starting position in the GTLM class. He and co-driver Ryan Briscoe will be going for their fourth consecutive victory Saturday.Spencer Pumpelly earned the pole position in the GT Daytona class with a best lap of 53.148 seconds (99.8 mph) in the No. 16 Lamborghini.Hydro Flask Pas Cher France . PETERSBURG, Fla. Bouteille Hydro Flask Pas Cher . The Cincinnati Reds remain perfect with their speedy rookie outfielder in the starting lineup. http://www.hydroflaskbouteille.fr/ . Walcott is available for Saturdays home match against Southampton as Arsenal looks to extend its two-point lead at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners are currently the second highest scorers in the league but Wenger insists Walcott will add something extra to his team. Acheter Hydro Flask . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed. Bouchon Hydro Flask . On June 12, just as the sun sets on the magnificent historical city of Sao Paulo the inventors, innovators and purveyors of “joga bonitowill” open their campaign. The opponent, Croatia and all its football might and will. As opposites do attract we are set for a corker of an opener.TORONTO -- Team Europe will lean on 6-foot-9 defenseman Zdeno Chara, referred to by his coach as a tower, to slow Canada in the World Cup of Hockey finals.When Sidney Crosby and Co. come charging down the ice, Chara will often be standing and skating in their way.Hes a guy who you dont want to play against, Canadian forward Brad Marchand said Monday. Hes mean. Hes big. Hes tough. And, he covers a lot of ice.Marchand would know.He, along with Canadas Patrice Bergeron, play with Chara in Boston.The 39-year-old Chara will not only be the tallest player on the ice Tuesday night in Game 1 of the best-of-three series. Hell also be the oldest.Marchand, though, insisted the 2009 Norris Trophy winner has not lost a step.Hes still dominant in so many areas.Chara is averaging nearly 22 minutes of ice time per game, ranking among team leaders, and has scored a goal in four World Cup games.Europe coach Ralph Krueger cites leadership as one of Charas biggest assets. He has been Bostons captain for nearly a decade and became the first Slovakian player to win a Stanley Cup in 2011, and the second European to be captain of an NHL champion, following Nicklas Lidstrom in 2008.When Krueger was putting together the team a year ago, he traveled to New York to talk to Chara when the Bruins were playing the Islanders in a preseason game.Getting Chara to buy in, Krueger figured, was a key to the teams success.Several players joined the conversation, Krueger recalled, and a newfound respect began to develop.A tower for more than his physical presence, Krueger said. Its the man inside of that towerr that has been so exciting to work with.ddddddddddddChara said the top priority for team-building was having players from eight nations mesh as one.We talked about a lot of things, but nothing can be accomplished, nothing can be done if you dont come together as a team, he said. Its not going to happen if youre not going to have everyone on the same page and playing as a team. Nobody showed any egos and we worked really hard.Instead of just playing for his country, Chara is competing for a pan-European team made up of countries outside of the continents four traditional powers.Hes one of six players from Slovakia, tying the number of Germans on the team. Four players are from Switzerland, three from Denmark and one apiece from Austria, France, Norway and Slovenia.Its been a real pleasure to get to know them and being on the same team, Chara said. So, its been a really good experience.The three-time Olympian sounds like hes having a good time, playing in another best-on-best tournament, even though he acknowledged he doesnt always look like it.It doesnt mean if I dont smile, I dont have fun, he said. A lot of time you might think Im maybe sad, but inside Im happy and smiling. Thats just the way I am and Im not expressing myself. Maybe I should do that because my wife tells me I have a beautiful smile.The often-pesky Marchand said he wont be cracking jokes, or talking trash, to Chara on Tuesday night.Hes way too scary, Marchand said with a grin. ' ' '