Chat-World » ng figure was 6-foot-6 Juan Martin del Potro, a former US O

For now, it appears Alan Pardew is content to be manager of Crystal Palace and not the England national team. With some of his players making significant contributions for their respective countries during the international break, he and the Eagles try to tighten the standings in the top half of the table Saturday against West Ham United at Selhurst Park.Following the departure of Sam Allardyce just 67 days into his tenure with the Three Lions, Pardews name was thrown about as a potential long-term candidate should interim boss and former Palace academy product Gareth Southgate falter in his four-match audition during World Cup qualifying.But with England taking four points from their two matches, all appears calm at St Georges Park -- aside from the usual hand-wringing with regards to their World Cup chances and Wayne Rooneys place in the side -- for now, so Pardew has one less distraction to worry about as he tries to keep Crystal Palace (3-2-2) among the leagues best.Palace may have been the one side who didnt want down time -- theyre unbeaten in their last five league matches (3-2-0) after opening with a pair of 1-0 defeats. They picked up a point at Goodison Park on Sept. 30 with a 1-1 draw on a goal by Christian Benteke, who then set a World Cup qualifying record by scoring for Belgium 8.1 seconds into their match to spark a 6-0 victory over Gibraltar on Monday.Benteke finished with three goals and has five in his last four contests for club and country, with his eight-minute stint as a sub versus Bosnia-Herzegovina on Oct. 7 his only barren spell in that span. Joe Ledley and keeper Wayne Hennessey helped Wales secure a pair of draws in their matches, Andros Townsend appeared off the bench for England against Slovenia but Bakary Sako may be a question mark after withdrawing from Malis squad due to injury prior to their qualifier against the Ivory Coast.While Pardew is seeking another fast eight-match start with Palace, West Ham United (1-1-5) are still trying to pinpoint a place to make a turnaround. The Hammers are in the relegation zone after their atrocious start, and their 17 goals shipped are a league-worst.There were, however, finally signs of life in London Stadium before the break as Dimitri Payets stellar individual effort secured a 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough on Oct. 1. The France international slalomed his way past and around six Boro defenders before beating Victor Valdes from inside the penalty area in the 57th minute to wipe out Cristhian Stuanis goal six minutes prior.Payet carried his strong form into World Cup qualifying, scoring for Les Bleus in their win over Bulgaria and setting up Paul Pogbas match-winner in a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands.But there was also bad news as promising young defender Sam Byram was forced off the pitch inside 10 minutes with what the teams official website labeled a significant hamstring injury and may be sidelined for a month. Aaron Cresswell has resumed practicing with the first team, but Andre Ayew and Andy Carroll continue to be sidelined for prolonged periods of time.Those absences have given Jonathan Calleri the chance to make a name for himself after scoring 39 goals for All Boys, Boca Juniors and Sao Paulo the last two seasons in South America.The style of play here is very different and it can take a few months to settle in, Calleri told West Hams official website. I remember it took a while for Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano to settle in and then they did really well.We all remember how (Tevez) saved the club from relegation and I hope I can achieve just a quarter of what he achieved here.Transitioning to their new London Stadium digs has been difficult, but West Hams road form has been far worse -- the Hammers have been outscored 9-4 in their three away matches this season and failed to lead any of those contests.West Ham took four of six points between the teams last season, including a 3-1 victory in the corresponding fixture. Manuel Lanzinis goal two minutes from time proved the winner before Payet added an insurance tally in stoppage time. Carl Jenkinson and Yohan Cabaye traded goals three minutes apart in the first half.The Hammers have taken points in four of their last five trips to Selhurst Park (2-2-1), but Palace have gone 3-4-2 in the last nine matches overall between the teams. Randall Cunningham Jersey . Houston won 3-0 to advance to face New York in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Last in the game, Di Vaio and Romero got into a shoving match with several Houston players. Romero appeared to elbow and kick Houston defender Kofi Sarkodie. Clayton Thorson Eagles Jersey . -- For the first time in two months, an opponent was standing up to Alabama. http://www.theeaglesshoponline.com/Youth-Herman-Edwards-Eagles-Jersey/ . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. Wes Hopkins Jersey . 10 Texas Rangers jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons. Shareef Miller Jersey . 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. NEW YORK -- The big man was relentless. His serves crashed down like loose boulders onto a narrow mountain road. His forehand swung from one side of the court to the other with the force of a wrecking ball, demolishing the game -- and the US Open hopes -- of the little man.It was a savage beating, and on the surface, it appeared a mismatch of the kind that would ordinarily drive a crowd howling into the corner of the smaller man.But this was different.The towering figure was 6-foot-6 Juan Martin del Potro, a former US Open champion whose career has nearly been destroyed by wrist injuries and surgeries. He was playing a much-loved underdog, 5-foot-9 David Ferrer. But nobody wanted to see the Little Beast slay the beloved giant.So the fans continually called out del Potros name; they periodically broke into the singsong chant, Ole, Ole, Ole, Delpo, Delpo. Once again, they helped lift del Potro to a win, as he overcame a sleepy start to take the third-round clash, 7-6 (3), 6-2, 6-3.All of New York appears to be in love with Delpo and his hard-luck story. Even Ferrer, whos almost always on the receiving end of the crowds affection, didnt have a bitter word to say about the crowds embrace of his opponent.This is a show, Ferrer said after losing. And the crowd was supporting Juan Martin del Potro. I am trying to focus on my match; I dont care.I feel I am [in] my home [country], del Potro said after the match, referring to the support he felt despite being 5,470 miles from his home in Tandil, Argentina. You make me so happy every day.Del Potro, whos 27 and in the tournament as a wild card, made his great breakthrough at the age of 20 here at Flushing Meadows with a startling and unexpected upset of Roger Federer in the 2009 final. Just months later, his right wrist became sore; rest and therapy were of no avail. He had surgery and missed all of 2010.Del Potro was barely rounding into playing shape when his left wrist went hinky. After two surgeries failed, the depressed player almost quit the game. He had one more procedure and began his comeback last summer. His ranking at the start of this year was in quadruple digits: No. 1042.Somehow, through all that grief, Delpo has managed to win the sixth-most career titles (18) of all active players.Spectators at tennis tournaments seem to know del Potros story, but thats only a partial explanation of his popularity. Many of them also respond at a more visceral level. Hes the quintessential gentle giant. Little children especially like him, said Guillermo Salatino, a veteran Argentinian broadcasteer.dddddddddddd He is like a strange thing, a giant, but he is also a nice one.Ironically, del Potro hasnt always been as popular at home as abroad. He has missed some Davis Cup ties, alienating many of his fiercely patriotic countrymen. However, del Potros inspired performance in Rio has won them over, according to Salatino. In Rio, del Potro upset top-seeded Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. He ultimately settled for the silver medal.Del Potro described his Rio experience as The happiest moment of my life.The moments he has experienced thus far at Flushing Meadows may be building toward a comparable peak. Theyve provided him with emotional fuel and inspiration. After his win against Steve Johnson on Thursday, del Potro said, Thats amazing when I get into the court, and the people likes just to see me. Im having great days at the US Open.Its heartwarming when a crowd of 20,000 adopts a player and showers him with the kind of love usually reserved for a lost, wet puppy. The rush is real when a player hears his name chanted. But while helpful, that support wont win you tennis matches. Del Potro is advancing inexorably in this tournament because hes a very big man hitting a very big ball like he hasnt done in a long time.As Ferrer said: He was injured two years; now he change a little bit his game. He is playing more aggressive with his forehand and with the serve.Del Potro won the match Saturday because he shook off the cobwebs and played aggressive tennis. His served clocked up to 133 mph, enabling him to win 81 percent of his first serve and 55 percent of his second-serve points. (Ferrers numbers in those key categories were 63 and 50 percent respectively.)More importantly, del Potro simply hit the ball deeper, harder and closer to the lines than Ferrer did, time and again. It counts, and it doesnt ever show up in the stat sheet.Ironically, this is how del Potros game might have evolved had he been on the tour, healthy, all these years. But in his case, necessity was the mother of invention. Del Potro still has to use his backhand sparingly if he can and slice more often than he might like.Thats why Im trying to play aggressive with my forehands, with m