Clanregeln » e to a low point.Can the Big 12 finally b

WASHINGTON -- The Kansas City Royals are going to have to work on their nicknames as far as President Barack Obama is concerned. Everything else was looking pretty good though as he honored the 2015 World Series champions at the White House on Thursday, describing them as one of the grittiest, most complete teams weve seen in a long time.The Royals last visited the White House in 1985 when President Ronald Reagan saluted their never-say-die spirit in the Rose Garden. The 2015 team showed the same quality. Six outs away from playoff elimination, the Royals scored seven runs to defeat the Houston Astros. They went on to win that series and to beat the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Mets. Obama noted that the Royals held the record for comeback wins in the playoffs.Obama also acknowledged that it had been a long time between visits to the White House for Kansas City. Lets face it, its been a long road for Royals fans, Obama said. There were some dark years, some tough decades.But Obama said that began to change when General Manager Dayton Moore was hired and the Royals started to develop talented players through their minor league system. Among them: outfielder Alex Gordon, infielders Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer, and catcher Salvador Perez.Obama called each of the players by their nicknames, Gordo, `Moose, `Hos and Salvy. But the president didnt seem to find those too creative.Were going to have to work on these, Obama said.When the president calls you out, you definitely got to start thinking about something, Hosmer said after the ceremony. Weve got some guys in the locker room, Im sure theyre starting to bear down on that.However, Obama admitted to liking outfielder Jarrod Dysons description of one of the teams top weapons: Thats what speed do.Thats a good quote, Obama said.Obama noted that his spokesman, Josh Earnest, was a big Royals fan, and that the Royals visit Thursday was right up there as far as best days ever. Manager Ned Yost, Hosmer and Perez interrupted the days press briefing to present the Kansas City, Missouri native with a team jersey, an upgraded mug and an autographed World Series baseball. Yost said the team didnt want Earnest to get into trouble by him trying to hijack the presidents jersey.The team gave Obama a Royals jersey with the number 44 in gold lettering, which nicely matched the ornate drapes in the White House East Room.---On Twitter, reach Kevin Freking at https://twitter.com/APkfreking---This story has been corrected to note that Obama called the Royals one of the grittiest teams in a long time.Kenny Golladay Womens Jersey . Woodson said during a radio interview Thursday that the Knicks Carmelo Anthony doesnt get the same calls as other superstars. Barry Sanders Womens Jersey . 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.authenticnfllionslockroom.com/Youth-Austin-Bryant-Elite-Jersey/ . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. From Pierre LeBrun While Anaheim GM Bob Murray said earlier this season he was not going to trade Jonas Hiller despite the fact hes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, some sources have told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun that Murray might be willing to move another goalie. T.J. Hockenson Womens Jersey . The 18-year-old American had five birdies in her bogey-free round for a 17-under total of 196. Lee held the overnight lead but mixed three birdies with two bogeys for a 70. Jarrad Davis Lions Jersey . Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek defeated Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (4) on the indoor hard-court at Belgrade Arena. The victory improved the Czech pairs impressive cup doubles record to 14-1.Not even a decade ago, the Big 12 had reached its apex.In 2008, the Big 12 South had emerged as the best division in college football, headlined by heavyweights Oklahoma and Texas trading blows for conference supremacy and the chance to play for national championships. The Big 12 had just signed one TV deal with ESPN, and was primed to ink another with Fox.The conference appeared harmonious. And seemed stable.Since that time, the Big 12 has been in a free fall, culminating with a new low point this year.I dont know if the conference has hit rock bottom yet, said one source familiar with Big 12 matters. But we can see the bottom.A Title IX scandal has come to define one of its members. Baylor, even several months after removing the school president, athletic director and head football coach, continues to be in the news almost weekly.Nonconference foes collectively wiped out the Big 12, leaving it with a real chance to miss the College Football Playoff for the second time in the three years of the system.In the boardroom, the Big 12 has never looked so indecisive about its expansion going into Mondays critical gathering of league presidents and chancellors.This bottoming out has also manifested itself on the field.Last month, the Big 12 went just 3-6 against Power 5 opponents. Oklahoma State and Kansas lost to MAC schools. Iowa State was defeated by an FCS team. And with Notre Dame cratering since losing at Texas, the conferences most appealing nonconference victory just might be the Cowboys win over Pitt, which appears to be -- at best -- a middle-tier squad in the ACC Coastal Division.Baylor and West Virginia, meanwhile, are the Big 12s last two remaining unbeatens. While still alive in the playoff hunt, they are still the lowest-ranked undefeated Power 5 conference teams in the AP poll. Despite playing another cupcake out-of-conference slate, and one team ranked in the FPI top 90, the Bears have struggled. Their last time out, the Bears needed a furious fourth quarter rally to topple 1-5 Iowa State. As a result, the Bears might have to go undefeated to reach the playoff.West Virginia is better positioned, on paper, with the conferences only decent showing during nonconference play, but the Mountaineers have yet to play a true road game (they will stage their first this weekend at Texas Tech). Since joining the Big 12, theyve never won more than five conference games.Given where the Big 12 stands for the moment relative to other Power 5 leagues, the chances of the Big 12s 11-year title drought being snapped this season are slim.Yet as poorly as the Big 12 has fared on the field this season, it doesnt compare to the hits the conference has taken off the field.Last summer, Big 12 board chhair David Boren termed the league psychologically disadvantaged, and that perception has turned to reality.ddddddddddddAt the insistence of commissioner Bob Bowlsby, the Big 12 has tried to be aggressive in recent months in an attempt to remain competitive with the other Power 5 conference, all of which have -- or will have -- their own networks. The Big 12 swiftly added a championship game in the spring, then unanimously -- and surprisingly -- voted in July to explore expansion.Since that moment, Big 12 leaders have sent mixed signals. From Texas president Greg Fenves unexpectedly tweeting his support of Houston to Bowlsby interviewing 11 expansion candidates in Dallas to Boren seemingly cooling on the whole premise, nobody, including the presidents themselves, knows what to expect will come from Mondays meeting, when the conference originally was supposed to vote on expansion.Its been embarrassing, one industry insider said. (Big 12 member athletic department officials) are embarrassed by the way this has been handled.One way or the other, if the league fails to take any action or conduct a vote on Monday after devoting so much time, money and talk to the issue, it will reinforce the narrative of Big 12 instability.Said the source familiar with Big 12 matters, The conference champion (Baylor) two of the last three years is going through a scandal the regents still cant get the school out of. Texas still cannot get its footing. Oklahoma loses twice in the nonconference. And the complete indecisiveness in the board room -- all of that has really taken the league to a low point.Can the Big 12 finally begin to reverse this downward trend that has encompassed the league since 2008?We have a strong leader in Bowlsby, one Big 12 official pointed out, noting that Bowlsby has the confidence of the leagues coaches, athletic directors and even presidents. That makes a huge difference.Others within the league havent lost faith and still think the Big 12 can thrive again.I still believe in the Big 12, said another Big 12 official. I dont think its rock bottom. We had a team (Oklahoma) in the playoff last year. We have teams in contention this year.I believe in the leadership of this league.That leadership will be tested Monday, when big decisions will be on the table. And the future of the league is once again on the line.They need to get to a clear point on expansion -- either do it, or dont and cut it off, an official said. The intrigue, the politics, that needs to come to an end.To be completely stable again, this conference needs to start acting like a conference. ' ' '