Die Allianz T-D-P » silver in his seventh appearance at the Asi

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Bartolo Colon watched Alex Rios foul pop fall into first baseman Brandon Moss mitt, looked back at his catcher and started the ceremonial high-five line that follows most victories. Been there, done that. At this point in Colons career, no need for excessive celebration. Colon tossed a five-hitter a week after turning 40, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Chicago White Sox 3-0 on Friday night in a game that took only 2 hours, 14 minutes. "I feel proud to pitch the way that I did," Colon said in Spanish. Colon (6-2) struck out and three and walked none for his 11th career shutout. He has 34 complete games, third-most among active pitchers behind Roy Halladay (67) and CC Sabathia (35). He also became the first American League pitcher with a shutout after age 40 since Bostons Curt Schilling won 1-0 at Oakland on June 7, 2007, according to the As. "Theres still a little something in the tank," said As manager Bob Melvin, who never had a reliever throwing in the bullpen. "Hes always out to prove that he can be a successful pitcher at the major league level and he can still pitch as a power pitcher, which he does. Hell never tell you that, but the reason that hes had the lengthy career that hes had is that he never lets down." John Jaso was the first baserunner for either team to reach second when he doubled against Dylan Axelrod (3-4) leading off the eighth inning. Josh Reddick followed with an RBI double after coming off the disabled list before the game, and Coco Crisp added a two-run single to back Colons stellar start. Jaso said he realized Colons control was especially on target when he kept calling for the one spot on the pitching report not to throw to slugger Adam Dunn -- on the outer half of the plate -- and it worked so well. "It just showed the movement on his ball," Jaso said. "The guys eyes would light up because thats his pitch to hit, then it moves off the plate, but hes already committed to it." It was Colons first nine-inning shutout since leading the Yankees past the As 5-0 on May 30, 2011. He also pitched a rain-shortened three-hitter over seven innings against Boston on April 23. Colon, who received a 50-game suspension for a positive testosterone test last August and missed the playoffs for the AL West champions, looked as spry as ever on the mound in front of an announced crowd of 16,416 at the Oakland Coliseum. While the As struggled at the plate, Colon continued to pound the strike zone and challenge hitters. He threw 106 pitches -- 77 for strikes -- and hasnt walked a batter in eight of his 11 starts this season. "Hes a good one and it was fun," Axelrod said. "It seemed like both of us didnt have much rest on the benches. It was fun. He was out there for a few and then I was out there. I cant ask for anything more. It was just one of those things at the end there." For a while, it appeared the As might not give Colon any support. Axelrod retired his first eight batters until Eric Sogards single to right. Then he set down the next 12 before Seth Smiths two-out single in the seventh. Axelrod and Colon each relied on their defence, too, for several spectacular plays. Sogard backhanded a hard-hit grounder up the middle in the seventh and tossed the ball to shortstop Jed Lowrie, who fired it to first to complete a double play. Lowrie led off the top of the inning with a deep fly to right field, where Rios ran underneath the ball for a catch near the top of the wall. Reddick showed off the defensive skills that won him a Gold Glove last year when he made a running basket catch near the foul line for the first out of the eighth. Then he followed with his first hit since coming back, easily the biggest of the night. Axelrod, who had won his last three starts, was replaced by Matt Thornton following Reddicks double. Axelrod gave up four hits and struck out seven in seven-plus innings, walking slowly to the White Sox dugout afterward, sitting on the bench and putting his hands over his head. All the 27-year-old could do was marvel at Colon. "Hes doing everything he did for us last year -- throwing strikes and making contact where he can get outs," Reddick said. "Tonight it worked out really well for him." NOTES: As opening day starter Brett Anderson, on the DL since May 1 with a stress fracture in his right foot, played catch from one knee before the game. Anderson is still walking around in a boot. ... White Sox 2B Gordon Beckham made his second consecutive rehab start for Triple-A Charlotte. He went 1 for 5 and singled home the winning run in the ninth inning for a 3-2 win over Rochester. ... Dan Straily (3-2, 5.08 ERA) starts for the As opposite White Sox lefty Jose Quintana (3-2, 3.75 ERA) in the middle game of the series Saturday. Air Max 720 Offerta .Y. -- Paul Byron and Matt Stajan scored as the Calgary Flames started a five-game road trip with a 2-1 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon. Vans Scarpe Scontate . A forerunning sled crashed into the worker Thursday at the Sanki Sliding Center. The unidentified worker broke both legs and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. http://www.scontateoutletairmax.it/yeezy-boost-350-v2-economiche.html . Calgary scored on the first shift, and Michael Cammalleri scored twice as the Flames cruised to a 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday. Air Max 90 Prezzo Basso . After the whistle, Thornton skated the length of the ice, pulled Orpik to the ice from behind and punched him in the face several times. Nike Air Force 1 07 Scontate .5 million, one-year contract on Friday. Hawkins, who turns 41 in December, will compete with Rex Brothers for the closers role at spring training. They havent heard of Sachin Tendulkar or Virat Kohli. But the mention of Indian movies elicits more than just broad smiles and approving nods: PK, PK! exclaims Chit Ko Ko.The 32 year-old from Myanmar, along with his senior compatriot Aung Htay, 50, is participating in the World Billiards Championship, currently underway in Bengaluru, for the first time. English isnt one of the languages either players speak and travelling coach-cum-manager Zerne Aung Than doubles up as interpreter on most occasions.Lorded over by the oppressive military junta for close to five decades, the struggle for freedom, human rights and peace took centrestage in Myanmar. Sport, has at best, been a diversion in the strife-torn nation.Ranked No 1 and 2 respectively in the country, Htay and Ko Ko, who hail from Yangoon, admit that billiards is far from a popular sport in Myanmar and certainly not enough to sustain their families. While Htay, who lost to Pankaj Advani in the semifinals on Monday to finish with a bronze (points format), is an engineer by profession and holds a government job, Ko Ko, runs the family hardware store when he finds time off from the sport.Leaning forward, hands resting on the table, they listen intently at the questions asked, nodding at occasional familiar-sounding English words before Than takes over. Football and Manchester United are near-synonymous in the country, says Than, conveying the more passionate fan of the three, Ko Kos enthusiasm. Leithwei, a form of unarmed martial art, similar to kickboxing, is another favourite with the locals, he adds.Myanmar has little over 40 billiards players today with close to five of them in the top 100. The pacier format of snooker as opposed to billiards has found far more takers, particularly among youngsters in the country. The interest, however, is largely limited to being a recreational one.Pursuing a cue sport isnt seen as a serious career option. Snooker players number no more than 30 in the country. Over the past decade, Than says, there has been a spurt in interest for snooker, largely due to the mushrooming of pool parlours. Youngsters love snooker, he says, Its fast.Sponsors are hard to come by and players depend largely on the national federation for funding their playing expenses, which includes footing the travel cost for tournaments. Sponsors are reluctant to invest in a sport thats not popular enough, says Than, So thhe federation is the sole source of funds for players.dddddddddddd Its tough.The non-physical nature of billiards was what appealed to Ko Ko as a teen. It helped that he had a pool parlour in the neighbourhood, whetting his interest for the sport. Its not too exacting physically, he says, Concentration and composure are the foremost traits needed for the sport. I think Ive both. For Htay, whos spent over the three decades playing billiards now, it began with his father, who had some knowledge of the sport, handing him a cue.Having known each other for close to seven years now, Htay and Ko Ko are more than familiar with each others playing styles and occasionally find themselves pitted against each other at tournaments. Like this time. Htay beat Ko Ko in the pre-quarterfinals (long up format) of the tournament last week.?There are no hard feelings, says Ko Ko, We knew only one of us can make the quarterfinals. Htays run ended in the quarterfinals after a loss to Dhvaj Haria. Admittedly in the twilight of his playing career, Htay wants to win the Asian championship title before he retires. Ko Ko, whos yet to have a major international win to his name, nods to convey a similar dream.In September this year, Htay, the most accomplished billiards player from his country among the current crop, finished with silver in his seventh appearance at the Asian billiards championship. He also has two gold and five silver medals to his credit so far from the South East Asian Games.As the conversation meanders to the next rung of billiards players in the country and chances of a possible spike in interest, Htay shakes his head disapprovingly before putting forth a brutally honest observation. Its not a sport I would encourage youth of our country to take up. You cannot feed your family with its earnings. Theres no money in it, he says.The silence that followed the loaded statement is broken by an animated Ko Ko, punching his fist into the air. Having heard him out, a clueless Than turns to me and asks, Hes talking of an Indian movie he loved. Its about a female boxer. Any idea? The answer wasnt obviously tough. Mary Kom?, I suggest, as Ko Ko jumps up from his chair excitedly to affirm, unmindful of the five-time world champions existence beyond the movie realm. ' ' '