Jeters absence, and Robinson Cano is looking forward to some stability there with the return of the 13-time All-Star. "We all know what kind of guy he is and what energy he brings to the team,

Almost 46 years to the day after the NFL first staked a claim on Monday night, theres finally a better matchup on another channel.Hillary vs. The Donald.For years, generals and politicians used sports metaphors to explain some of the most consequential issues of our time. So just this once, lets flip the script. Forget for a moment that the future of America -- not to mention civilization -- hangs in the balance. Instead, imagine the debate as a sporting event ...Think Trump as Mike Tyson. Announcer: Hes still looking to land that one big punch. And hes had it with the fact-checking low blows and policy-question clinches. Hold on! Did he just bite the top of her ear off?Or Clinton as the late, usually mild-mannered Arizona Cardinals coach Dennis Green, firing back at critics who suggested she didnt take her opponent seriously enough: He is who we thought he was! Thats why I took the stage! Now if you want to crown him, you can crown him! But he is who we thought he was!Its so tempting that a number of political analysts are using sports-writing tools to break down the matchup: offense vs. defense, strengths and weaknesses, how the coaching staffs and training facilities stack up, even how the practice sessions have been going.No one has posted a point spread yet, so feel free to add your own Mercifully, weve also been spared a Tale of the Tape.Were excluding pro wrestling comparisons, because thats too easy. Already, billionaire Dallas Mavericks owner and former Trump-confidant-turned-critic Mark Cuban bragged about snagging a front-row seat for what he called the Humbling at Hofstra. Trump countered by inviting Gennifer Flowers, who claimed a long-running affair with Clintons husband.And I hear from a lot of people that Trumps camp lobbied to have close pal Don King replace NBCs Lester Holt as moderator.The best comparisons to the Clinton-Trump battle from different sports:FOOTBALLClinton is serious and prepared. She uses her practice time purposefully. She has experience, a multitude of game plans and knows how to manage the clock. If she was a player, shed be Peyton Manning. If she was a coach -- lets see: wonky, secretive, willing to bend rules, even got caught recently fudging an injury report -- shed be Bill Belichick. Definitely Belichick.As a player, Trump would be Brett Favre, a gunslinger who was at his best on broken plays and never saw a throw he wouldnt make. If he was a coach, hed be Chip Kelly in his Oregon days, breaking the mold with his house-on-fire offensive attack. Or maybe Steve Spurrier at Florida, less worried about what his opponents might do than whether he could sneak out of a film session and squeeze in nine holes before sundown.BASEBALLClinton would be a reliable contact hitter with decent power. She can use the whole field, bunt or move the runner over when called for -- in short, Ted Williams. Teddy Ballgame did all those things -- and still managed to alienate the Boston media and even some fans. Plus, his family chose to have his remains frozen, so -- he could still have a comeback worthy of Clinton.Trump would be Barry Bonds, a threat to homer in every at-bat, but also arrogant, willing to break the rules and unapologetic about it. Like the late-career Bonds, hed also need an XXL-sized hat.If they were managers, shed be Buck Showalter and hed be Bob Brenly.Brenly succeeded Showalter as skipper of the Arizona Diamondbacks and in his first spring-training meeting with the team, dropped Showalters inch-thick organization handbook on the floor and pulled out a cocktail napkin with his rules scrawled across it. They read: Be on time. Play hard.BASKETBALLThere hasnt been so much ego confined in a space about the size of an NBA lane since long-retired titans Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain battled.Russell was the ultimate defender, always in position and so ready to plug holes his Celtic teammates devised the Hey Bill defense; anytime an opponent broke free and headed for the hoop, they simply yelled Hey Bill.Chamberlain was brought a skillset unlike any big man before him. He hogged the prime real estate on the court, drew all eyes to him and scored almost at will. And did we mention his lavish tastes?As a coach, Clinton would be Gregg Popovich, tailoring his schemes to fit the talent on the floor and eager to use immigrants like Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. Trump would be Larry Brown, a his-way-or-the-highway leader who quickly loses interest in failing ventures quickly and thinks the team bus should always be running in case he needs to make his latest getaway.Wholesale Athletics Jerseys . -- Aaron Murray threw for 408 yards and three touchdowns, ran for another score, and led No. Cheap Tony Phillips Jersey . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. http://www.cheapathleticsjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-joe-morgan-jersey .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. Cheap Athletics Jerseys Authentic . The 29-year-old from Port Colborne, Ont., has nothing but good things to say about former U.S. marine Liz (Girlrilla) Carmouche ahead of their co-main event Wednesday on the UFCs "Fight for the Troops" televised card in Fort Campbell, Ky. Cheap Athletics Jerseys China . Colin Wilson had two goals and an assist, and Mike Fisher scored a goal and helped set up two others in the Predators 6-4 victory over the Red Wings on Monday night. NEW YORK -- The captain is ready to test his twice broken ankle. Derek Jeter will start a rehabilitation assignment Saturday with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the first step toward returning to the New York Yankees. He is scheduled to play at least five innings at shortstop. Whether he will be able to don his pinstripes before the All-Star break is to be seen. "I think he has to feel comfortable playing," manager Joe Girardi said Friday. "He really hasnt had a whole lot of at-bats. He has not played a whole lot of infield. So (we need to see him) being able to go back-to-back days, back-to-back-to-back days that sort of thing." Jeter joins third baseman Alex Rodriguez in the minor leagues. Jeter is starting with the Yankees top minor league club because he appears to be further along than A-Rod, who has played two games for Class A Charleston and is is hitless in his first four at-bats. Rodriguezs game Friday with the Tampa Yankees, a high-A club, was postponed by rain. He has said he thinks he will need the full 20 days allowed for a rehab assignment to prepare to play after having left hip surgery in January. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman would not commit to seeing either player back before the break that begins July 15. "Those guys will be ready when theyre ready," Cashman said. "Thats it." Jeter broke his ankle in the opener of the AL championship series on Oct. 13 and had surgery soon after. TThe player who rarely concedes hes injured vowed to return for opening day but he only played five spring training games because of soreness in the foot.dddddddddddd A new break was discovered on April 18. On Friday at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., Jeter took six simulated at-bats against minor league pitchers and ran the bases after putting the ball in play. He also did one of his signature jump throws to first after fielding a grounder in the hole during defensive drills. Five players have started at shortstop in Jeters absence, and Robinson Cano is looking forward to some stability there with the return of the 13-time All-Star. "We all know what kind of guy he is and what energy he brings to the team," Cano said. "Not only that -- also young players to myself the way he gives good advice, and everybody just looks to him. Thats all we want. We want our guy here and hes our shortstop." The Yankees infielder who might be closest to a return is Eduardo Nunez. He started 26 games at shortstop before going out with a left oblique strain June 6. Nunez played for Double-A Trenton on Thursday and was 0 for 5. In five rehab games, he is 3 for 13 with two runs and two stolen bases. "Hes played this year and hes has spring training," Girardi said, comparing Nunez to Jeter and Rodriguez. Also, Yankees starter Hiroki Kuroda said his hip flexor feels OK and that he was cleared to throw a bullpen session Friday. ' ' '